Upload
others
View
1
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016. Book of Abstracts of the Scientific Seminar Held at Latvia
University of Agriculture, 7 – 8 July 2016. Managing Editors: Zinta Gaile, Dace Šterne. Jelgava:
LLU. 56 p.
ISBN 978-9984-48-230-9
Organizing Committee
Dr. agr. Zinta Gaile – Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia (Chairperson)
Dr. agr. Biruta Bankina – Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia
Dr. Zita Kriauciuniene – Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuania
Dr. Viktoras Pranckietis – Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuania
PhD Endla Reintam – Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia
Dr. agr. Dainis Lapiņš – Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia
Mg. agr. Merabs Katamadze – Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia
Scientific Committee
Dr. agr. Zinta Gaile – Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia (Chairperson)
Dr. agr. Biruta Bankina – Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia
Dr. Zita Kriauciuniene – Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuania
PhD Endla Reintam – Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia
Dr. habil. Agr. Aldis Kārkliņš – Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia
Dr. agr. Dace Šterne – Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia
Dr. agr. Maija Ausmane – Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia
Language editor: Santa Treija
Page layout by Dace Šterne
Cover design by SIA „Drukātava”
Photo Dainis Lapiņš
© Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitāte (LLU), 2016
Number of copies printed 100
Printed: SIA Drukātava,
Liliju street 95/1, Mārupe, LV-2167, Latvia
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
3
CONTENTS
Gaile Z. Faculty of Agriculture, Latvia University of Agriculture .................................................... 5
Reintam E., Vooremäe A. Developments in the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences of Estonian University of Life Sciences .............................................................................. 7
Pranckietis V., Blinstrubiene A., Kriauciuniene Z. Research activities at Aleksandras Stulginskis
University Agronomy Faculty ........................................................................................................... 9
Kadžiulienė Ž., Dabkevičius Z., Brazauskas G., Semaškienė R., Tilvikienė V. Agronomy research
in Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry ........................................................... 11
Alsiņa I., Dubova L., Šenberga A., Zaharāne L., Zīverts K., Liepiņa M. The effectiveness of
inoculation of legumes with Rhizobia .............................................................................................. 13
Alaru M., Loit E. Pulses in Europe and in Estonia .......................................................................... 14
Kadžiulienė Ž., Arlauskienė A., Šarūnaitė L. Legumes for sustainability of agroecosystems ........ 16
Galoburda R. The implementation of the National Research Prgogramme AgroBioRes
(2014–2017) ..................................................................................................................................... 18
Karklins A., Ruza A. Fertiliser normatives – adjustment for local soil conditions .......................... 20
Dubova L., Ruža A., Alsiņa I. The Influence of tillage on soil microbiological activity ................ 22
Ausmane M., Melngalvis I., Ruža A. Influence of minimal soil tillage and crop rotation on weed
population in crops ........................................................................................................................... 23
Bankina B., Bimšteine G., Ruža A., Roga A., Fridmanis D. Effect of soil tillage and crop rotation
on the development of wheat diseases ............................................................................................ 24
Gailis J., Turka I. The phenology of ground beetles (Carabidae) in differently managed winter
wheat fields ...................................................................................................................................... 26
Mänd M., Karise R. Management of bumblebees to deliver biocontrol agents in open field
conditions ......................................................................................................................................... 27
Mockevičienė R., Marcinkevičienė A., Pupalienė R., Velička R., Kriaučiūnienė Z.,
Butkevičienė L.M. Earthworm density in spring oilseed rape crop in organic farming system ..... 28
Jančauskienė I., Blinstrubienė A. Effect of medium composition on Miscanthus × giganteus
regeneration competence .................................................................................................................. 29
Vainorienė R., Burbulis N., Blinstrubienė A., Jonytienė V. The effect of potassium bicarbonate
on photosynthesis parameters of Setaria viridis under drought stress ............................................. 30
Bakšienė E., Titova J. Research on the growing of perennial grass for energy ............................... 31
Adamavičienė A., Romaneckas K., Eimutytė E., Kimbirauskienė R. Living mulch and weed
competitiveness in maize crop ......................................................................................................... 32
Lapiņš D., Mintāle Z., Piliksere D., Maļecka S., Ņečajeva J. Information and some results on
weed monitoring in the regions of Latvia ....................................................................................... 34
Pupalienė R., Jodaugienė D., Sinkevičienė A., Bajorienė K. The effect of mulches on
Elytrigia repens spreading in organic farming system ..................................................................... 35
Kriauciuniene Z., Сepuliene R., Velicka R., Marcinkeviciene A., Pupaliene R., Kosteckas R.,
Cekanauskas S. The allelopathic effect of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) ....................................... 36
Are M., Teesalu T., Kaart T., Selge A., Reintam E. The effect of manure and nitrogen
fertilizer on the soil aggregate stability ............................................................................................ 37
Raave H. The influence of wood ash on the yield of barley, spring wheat and spring
oilseed rape ....................................................................................................................................... 38
Toomsoo A., Teesalu T., Kaevu H., Kriipsalu M., Rossner H., Astover A. Direct and residual
effect of organic waste compost on the crop productivity ............................................................... 39
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
4
Bogužas V., Steponavičienė V., Sinkevičienė A. Long-term impact of reduced intensity
tillage systems, straw and green manure combinations on soil aggregation, water capacity,
pore structure and bulk density ........................................................................................................ 41
Vaisvalavičius R., Mikučionienė R., Aleinikovienė J., Smalstienė V. Soil structure and organic
matter assessment in crop rotation ................................................................................................... 42
Masilionytė L., Maikštėnienė S. The effect of alternative cropping systems on the dynamics
of the main nutritional elements in the soil ...................................................................................... 43
Kosteckas R., Burbulis N. Influence of preparation albit on membrane injury of winter wheat
during cold stress .............................................................................................................................. 44
Aleknavičienė L., Staugaitis G., Brazienė Z., Paltanavičius V. The effect of sulphur fertilisation
on the yield of spring wheat ............................................................................................................. 45
Tripolskaja L. Impact of climate variability on precipitation filtration in Lithuania ...................... 46
Peleckis R., Burbulis N. Effect of L-glutamic acid on cold tolerance of winter rapeseed shoots .... 47
Loit K., Soonvald L., Runno-Paurson E., Tedersoo L. Arbuscular mycorrhizal community
composition of new European potato varieties grown in conventionally treated field soil .............. 48
Loit K., Kukk M., Öpik M., Runno-Paurson E. Comparison of the extent of colonization of
arbuscular mycorrhiza in plant roots in different cultivation practices ............................................ 49
Liniņa A., Ruža A. Nitrogen effect on winter wheat grain protein content ..................................... 50
Pazareckaitė A., Girdvainytė A., Pšibišauskienė G., Zaleckas E. Influence of biological
products on the growth and development of maize under greenhouse conditions ........................... 51
Tein B., Kauer K., Tampere M., Luik A., Loit E. The occurence of potato tuber silver scurf
(Helminthosporium solani) as affected by different farming systems ............................................. 52
List of oral and poster reports presented at the 20th Baltic Agronomy Forum ................................ 53
List of participants ............................................................................................................................ 55
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
5
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE, LATVIA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE
Zinta Gaile
Faculty of Agriculture, Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia
Dean of Faculty prof. Dr. agr. Zinta Gaile
Postal address 2 Lielā street, Jelgava, LV–3001, Latvia
Phone +371 63005679, fax +371 63005679, e-mail [email protected]
In the structure of Faculty of Agriculture (hereinafter – Faculty) two institutes, Research
and Study farm „Pēterlauki” (hereinafter – Pēterlauki) and Laboratory for testing of value for
cultivation and use of agricultural crop varieties (hereinafter – Laboratory of VCU) are included.
Institutes were founded in 2005: Institute of Soil and Plant Sciences and Institute of
Agrobiotechnology. Now, Faculty is on the threshold of possible changes and discussion is opened
about the necessity of institutes and their role in research and study process. Also, Pēterlauki has
changed. Before the year 2015, it was field research farm for Faculty staff trial needs, but now it is
a large unit which includes also former horse breeding centre “Mušķi” as a department, and another
field research department needed for Laboratory of VCU in Latgale Region – Višķi. Laboratory of
VCU was founded at Faculty in 2012 when it was decided by Ministry of Agriculture to give the
official variety trials in charge of Faculty. All these structure units take part in research and study
activities of Faculty.
In 2015, a new strategic plan was worked out at the Latvia University of Agriculture (LLU)
and also Faculty has set new objectives. The main directions and functions are replaced. Before the
new strategic plan was implemented, the main direction of University and Faculty was provision of
higher education, namely for Faculty – higher education in Agriculture (Agronomy, Zootechnics
and Entrepreneurship in Agriculture), but now it is research. The main research directions for
Faculty are described henceforward. 1. Research of microorganisms and invertebrates
important to agriculture. This direction includes the following topics: research of rhizobia
(Rhizobium spp.) and their strains, assessment of their efficiency and compatibility with host plants
(peas, beans and other legumes), research of their biological and genetic diversity; interaction
between different groups of microorganisms (rhizobia and mycorrhiza fungi); life cycles of plant
pathogens (mainly from the Ascomycota division and Deuteromycetes group), biology and ecology
of pathogens; occurrence of wheat root rot and the spectrum of its causal agents and diversity
depending on the agronomical measures; occurrence of barley ear scab and the spectrum of their
causal agents depending on the agro-ecological conditions; invertebrates (ground beetles and rove
beetles) as environmental indicators; occurrence and harmfulness of cereal pests, their life cycles
and natural enemies. 2. Research of soil and land as the main resource of agriculture. This
direction includes such topics: soil diversity and protection; the role of soil in the formation of
environmental risks (CO2 and other greenhouse gases emissions leaching and run-off of
biochemically active substances) and agricultural technologies for the reduction of such risks;
changes in the characteristics of the soil using different agricultural systems – intensive production,
extensive use of resources, biological agriculture, site specific (precision), different soil tillage
methods and crop rotation schemes etc.; methods and techniques of fertiliser use for increasing
efficiency and reducing environmental risks; studies on chemical element cycling in agriculture;
sustainable crop rotation and soil tillage methods and techniques by adjusting them to different
agricultural systems and environmental conditions; changes in weed species and their occurrence
depending on different agro-ecological conditions. 3. Improvement of plant productivity and
quality of harvest by using environmentally friendly technologies. This direction includes
further mentioned topics: the formation of structural elements of wheat, oilseed rape and other crop
yield in crop rotation and repeated sowings depending on the soil tillage method; differences in the
cold resistance (resistance to low positive temperatures) of maize hybrids and their influence on the
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
6
growing, development and yield; influence of the sowing density and harvesting time on the yield
its quality and the formation of mycotoxins in the yield; suitability of various energy crops for the
production of biogas – more methane with a reduced climate risk; the determination of maximum
nitrogen fertiliser rates for maize, hemp, legumes and other crops; research on the occurrence and
harmfulness of pests in crop rotation and repeated sowings or monoculture – wheat, field beans,
maize etc.; high-quality pasture swards for different species of animals; evaluation of forage
contamination with mycotoxins in Latvian farms; growing of alfalfa and its use in industrial
processing; propagation of Vaccinium spp. (high-bush blueberries, cloudberries, red bilberries,
cranberries), biological aspects of winter hardiness; physiological aspects of ornamental plant
propagation, growing technologies, substrates, fertilisation; research of genetic resources (aromatic,
medicinal and other plants, bees), conservation of the genetic recourses. 4. Improvement of
animal productivity and functional efficiency. This direction includes such topics as:
improvement of the productive characteristics of Latvian farm animals by using molecular
methods; suitability of the various species of farm animals imported into Latvia to the conditions of
Latvia; development of animal feeding and keeping systems for farm animals that are suitable for
Latvian conditions and are economically viable; development of programmes for ensuring the
health of animals for different types of farms in Latvia (including organic farms); research of
animal welfare, adaptation processes and behaviour of traditional and non-traditional species of
animals; development of new feed or feed additives and new feed processing technologies, their
testing; research of the farm animal feed composition impact on the environment and climate
(including methane emissions); research of the morphofunctional processes of non-traditional
animal species (for example, ostriches, deer, edible snails) and the influence of these processes on
the quantity and quality of the obtained production.
Part of above mentioned topics are developed within EU FP 7 program EUROLEGUME,
two huge projects of State Research Program and several projects financed by Ministry of
Agriculture of Latvia. Also smaller problems ordered by producers are solved. Currently, the main
problem is funding because stress is put on European scale projects, but competition in this scale is
cutthroat. The State of Latvia does not allocate funding for research; another stress is placed on
interests of producers who should pay for scientific solutions even in bigger or fundamental
research scale. Unfortunately, currently the majority of producers wants to have the solution for
their problem, but they do not want to pay as they consider that it is the responsibility of the State.
This is like a vicious circle.
Great responsibility and challenge is the provision of higher education in agriculture, and
Faculty is still the only place that provides this kind of education in Latvian language in Latvia.
Last year (2015) a scientific paper in which bachelor level higher education in Baltic Region was
compared was published in Proceedings of NJF Congress held in Riga in 2015 (co-authors from
Estonia and Lithuania were Evelin Loit and Viktoras Pranckietis, respectively) (Proceedings
available at: http://njfcongress.eu/images/PROCEEDINGS_of_the_25th_NJF_Congress.pdf).
Interest about education in agriculture from young people currently is stable in Latvia and also
working places are available in the country: even in Faculty we have a lot of requests for
specialists. The problem is continuously diminishing population in Latvia, funding of higher
education at the level of 85% from needed minimum since the crisis in 2009, and incapability to
compete with the sector recruiting new people as future teaching staff and researchers.
The point of reference for students’ number is 1 October of each year. Total number of
bachelor level students varied from 350 to 400 depending on a year, and it was 378 on 1 October
2015. At the same time we had 52 master students (it was a record during the last 6 years; we have
only 30 budget financed places) and 26 doctoral students. Since European Social fund grants are
not available anymore for doctoral students, an interest about these studies has decreased. The
number of graduates is very important since the sector has a continuous demand for specialists.
This year we hope that 57 (54% from matriculated) professional bachelors and 20 (71% from
matriculated) Masters of Agriculture will celebrate their Graduation Party on 22 June. We have
some dropout as it is seen by calculated percentage of graduates from matriculated students. Causes
of dropout are different – quite poor preliminary knowledge, though a very usual reason, especially
for master students, is inability to combine studies with job.
Faculty is still thinking about closer co-operation with Estonian and Lithuanian colleagues
in master level. We consider that this can be a good possibility not only for students of all three
Baltic countries but also for exchange students from other regions.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
7
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCES OF ESTONIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES
Endla Reintam, Aret Vooremäe
Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia
The Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (IAES) was established in 2005
by merging six of ten research and education institutions, which comprised the Estonian University
of Life Sciences (EMÜ) including the Faculty of Agronomy. The IAES is responsible for research
and development, and university level education in plant cultivation and plant biology, horticulture,
plant health, soil science and agrochemistry, landscape ecology and management, landscape
architecture, biological diversity and applied hydrobiology in Estonia. The IAES is the largest of
the five institutes of EMÜ and attracts 74% of the research financing and 25% of the students at the
University (Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, 2015).
The biggest change for the IAES during recent years was the opening of the Science Centre
of Renewable Resources in 2013, the new building bringing together researchers, teachers and
students from different former locations outside the campus. The new part of the building on 5100
m2 includes new rooms for laboratories, seminars, offices and ca 600 m
2 for the biological
collections, such as herbarium, mycological and entomological collections as well soil museum.
All together IAES got 11 000 m2 new or renewed modern facilities in the campus.
In 2015, the 130 m high Station of Measuring Ecosystem-Atmosphere Relations (SMEAR)
was opened at Järvselja, allowing measure concentrations and fluxes of energy and matter in the
atmosphere—biosphere system (Station for …, 2016). In the same year the Competence Centre for
Knowledge-based Health Goods and Natural Products (PlantValor) in Polli and renewed Võrtsjärve
Study Centre at Lake Võrtsjärve were opened too. In Polli competence centre the new plant
substances based products are developed in cooperation with different food, cosmetics and
pharmaceutics companies.
Currently, the institute has 11 departments, two research centres and one experimental
station. IAES is also involved in the activities of several interdisciplinary centres in the university.
No structural changes were made during last three years. However, in the spring of 2016 the
process to reorganize university responsibility areas and to emerge too small departments into
bigger chairs started again.
The annual budget in IAES is 6.4 million Euros, from which 28% comes from teaching,
10% from international research and 38% Estonian research grants. Rest of the budget forms from
different local and international contracts. Due to the end of EU financial period, some decrease of
research funds and the number of academic staff was evident in 2015 compared to the 2014 and
2013. The number of academic staff decreased from 127 to 106 and the number of different
contracts from 144 to 118, and sum of research money from nearly 48 000 to 43 000 EUR. At the
same time the income per academic person increased from nearly 34 000 to 40 400 EUR. In the
field of agriculture an average income per academic person is 22 000 EUR.
The new centre of excellence Ecology of Global Change: natural and managed ecosystems
(EcolChange) started in 2016. The EcolChange is led by Professor Ülo Niinemets and the leading
University is Estonian University of Life Sciences. The EcolChange is one of the nine Centres of
Excellence in Science in Estonia. In the field of agriculture one Horizon 2020 project was started in
2015 – Interactive Soil Quality Assessment in Europe and China for Agricultural Productivity and
Environmental Resilience (ISQAPER), where Estonia is one of the partners. There is also running
one FP 7 project – Quantification of Ecological Services for Sustainable Agriculture (QUESSA).
The list of other recent main research topics as well as international and local research projects and
contracts can be found in the institute booklet (Institute of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences, 2015). However, in the field of agriculture, the majority of the projects are applied
research projects or contracts.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
8
Publication of high level (Web of Science – WoS) papers increased from less than one to
1.08 and 0.75 per academic person per year in IAES and in agricultural area separately,
respectively. The average of the university is 0.48 WoS papers per academic person per year.
Our teaching and learning take place in a research environment where students benefit
from interaction with researchers who are working at the frontiers of knowledge in their
disciplines. We have seven bachelor, seven master and two doctoral degree programmes running
on the responsibility of our institute at the moment. All study programmes are based on accredited
curricula and teaching at IAES is of a high European standard. Due to the changes in the higher
education law, several curriculum names were changed and some curricula were closed in 2013. In
Estonia, since 2013 the education for full time students is free of charge on every curricula if the
study language is Estonian. In the field of agriculture the bachelor curricula Production of
Agricultural and Horticultural Products with two specializations earlier, was spited for two separate
curricula’s, such Production and Marketing of Agricultural Products and Horticulture, to be more
visible and attractive for the students. The distance learning bachelor curricula Farm Management
program was closed for admission, does not compete with the above mentioned programme as no
tuition fee has been allowed also for distance learning students since 2013. The master degree
programme Crop Technologies and Product Development was opened in 2012 but closed again for
admission in 2014 due to the low interest of the students. The main reason of closing of the
curricula’s is the decreasing number of students due to the demographic situation in Estonia. If in
2012/13 academic year there were 1452 students at IAES, then in the spring 2016 we had 916
students, from which 1/3 were agricultural students. The number of agricultural students decreased
from 547 to 341 during last years (Fig. 2). The number of admitted and graduated students is
decreasing as well. However, the satisfaction with the studies remained high and students
appreciated professionalism of our teachers and study environment.
Fig. 2. Number of agricultural students in IAES in bachelor and master level: S – students;
A – admitted students; G – graduates.
References
1. Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (2015). Vollmer, E., Kirsimäe, K. (compilers).
Estonian University of Life Sciences. Ecoprint, Tartu. 61 p. Available at
http://pk.emu.ee/en/home/booklet/ (23 May 2016)
2. Station for Measuring Ecosystem-Atmosphere Relations (SMEAR). http://smear.emu.ee/ (23 May 2016).
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
S A G S A G S A G
2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015
Nu
mb
er
of
stu
de
nts
Study year
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
9
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AT ALEKSANDRAS STULGINSKIS UNIVERSITY
AGRONOMY FACULTY
Viktoras Pranckietis, Ausra Blinstrubiene, Zita Kriauciuniene
Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuania
[email protected], [email protected]
Dean of Faculty assoc. prof. Dr. Viktoras Pranckietis
Postal address Studentų 11, Akademija, LT-53361 Kauno r., Lithuania
Phone +370 37752203, fax +370 37752293, e-mail [email protected]
Website http://af.asu.lt/en
At present, teaching staff of the Faculty includes 40 professors and assoc. professors. The
main fields of research are: agroecosystem sustainability and ecological intensification;
development of environment and resource conserving and competitive agrotechnologies; increase
of plant genetic potential in coherence with environment, stands productivity and growth
modelling; development of safe food and raw materials for innovative industrial production. There
are three Institutes at the Faculty: Institute of Agroecosystems and Soil Science, Institute of
Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural and Food Science.
Institute of Agroecosystems and Soil Science. The mission of the Institute of
Agroecosystems and Soil Science is to conduct the scientific research in the area of agro-
ecosystems and soil sciences to perform training of specialists in the first, second and third
studying stages. The vision is to become a famous scientific institution and a centrum of
specialists’ education in the Baltic States in field of soil sciences, optimization of yielding
conditions of agricultural plants communities and organic farming.
Research topics
The improvement of Lithuanian soil classification.
The regularities of changes in soil properties and plant yield formation while influenced by
natural and anthropogenic factors.
The theoretical and practical basics of organic farming.
The optimization of yielding conditions of agricultural plant communities using husbandry
instruments.
Contacts: Head of institute prof. Dr. Vaclovas Bogužas, phone +370 37752233, e-mail
Institute of Biology and Plant Biotechnology
The mission is to apply the latest scientific achievements, to contribute to education of
highly skilled and strong morality professionals, to develop research in the fields of Agriculture,
Forestry, Biology, Botany (and etc.) of Agricultural and Biomedical Sciences, to disseminate
knowledge to the public. The Institute is a division of the Agronomy Faculty, maintaining business
relations with the various divisions of the University and other institutions, open to the cooperation
with foreign partners, carrying out the development and dissemination of educational and scientific
functions, providing decent working conditions and development of staff and students.
The Institute carries out studies and research related to the plant biology (Botany,
Physiology), plant protection (Entomology, Zoology, and Phytopathology), biotechnology,
microbiology.
Research topics
Agro ecosystem sustainability and ecological intensification.
Increase of plant genetic potential in coherence with the environment.
Development of environment and resource conserving and competitive agro technologies.
Contacts: Head of institute prof. dr. Natalija Burbulis, phone +370 37752264, e-mail [email protected].
Institute of Agricultural and Food Science
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
10
The mission of Institute is to develop fundamental and applied research in Agricultural and
Food sciences, to educate competitive highly qualified graduates and scientists, to systemize and
disseminate scientific knowledge so that each Lithuanian citizen could use safe and healthy food as
well as live in the full-fledged environment.
The subjects of research and studies activities are agricultural plants, their biological
potential modelling and realization, the quality of plant based food raw materials and animal
production as well its improvement.
Research topics
Development of environment and resource conserving and competitive agro technologies.
Development of safe food and raw materials for innovative industrial production.
Contacts: Head of institute prof. Dr. Elvyra Jarienė, phone +370 37752336, e-mail [email protected].
Research Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology
Fields of activity. Development of initial materials for spring/winter rapeseeds and linseed flax
breeding; increase of genetic variability of oilseed crops by different biotechnological methods;
development and screening of new oilseed crops gremplasm with biotic/abiotic stress resistance
using in vitro cultures; study of the inheritance of Brassica napus seed colour and development of
yellow-seeded genotypes; development of molecular markers linked to various traits of oilseed
crops; Agrobacterium – mediated transformation of rapeseeds.
Contacts: Head of laboratory prof. Dr. Natalija Burbulis, phone: +370 37752264, e-mail
Research Laboratory of Plant Products Quality, Zootechnical and Agronomical
Analyses
Fields of activity: evaluation of plants raw and produce quality; investigation of soil, animals
produce quality and composition.
Contacts: Head of laboratory MSc Gražina Žemaitienė, phone: +370 37752359, e-mail
Research Laboratory of Plant Raw Materials Quality Fields of activity. Investigation of plant raw materials chemical composition using non-destructive
analytical methods, evaluation of chemical composition of plant raw materials, storage of plant raw
materials in modified atmosphere, sensory analysis of food materials and products, testing of
harmful organisms biology, ecology, physiology, toxicology in controlled environment, evaluation
of bee races DNA, maternal pheromone and analysis of bee products quality, determination of
mycotoxins, heavy metals and pesticide residues in agricultural products.
Contacts: Head of laboratory assoc. prof. Dr. Aurelija Paulauskienė, phone: +370 37372341,
e-mail [email protected]
Experimental Station is involved in creation, introduction and dissemination of new
technologies. The crop production technologies that have been created and improved at
Experimental Station are introduced in farms in different regions of the country.
Research topics
Optimization and ecologization of crop formation and potential capacity by soil management
means.
Investigations of growth, development and yield formation of field and grassland crops.
Investigations of spread, damage and control measures of pests and diseases.
Development of growing technologies of main marketable crops of Lithuania (sugar beet,
wheat, oilseed rape) ensuring their competitiveness in domestic and foreign markets.
Economic feasibility and agro-engineering of reduced and ploughless soil management, and
direct drilling in our agro-climatic conditions.
Investigations of cultivation and use possibilities and technologies development of non-
traditional crops (spelta wheat, safflower, soy) in Lithuania.
Investigations of organic farming and development effect on agro-ecosystem.
Investigations of crop adaptation in changing climate conditions.
Contacts: Director prof., Dr. habil. Rimantas Velička, address Rapsu str. 7, LT-53363 Noreikiskes,
Kaunas distr., Lithuania, phone +370 37752217, e-mail [email protected].
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
11
AGRONOMY RESEARCH IN LITHUANIAN RESEARCH CENTRE FOR
AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Žydrė Kadžiulienė, Zenonas Dabkevičius, Gintaras Brazauskas, Roma Semaškienė, Vita
Tilvikienė
Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry Institute of Agriculture, Lithuania
Elaboration of research and experimental activities in the agricultural and forestry sector
vitally important for the development of national agriculture and forestry economy. Lithuanian
Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LAMMC) as a state research institution is one of the
leading research institutions, which carries out research in the fields of agronomy, forestry, ecology
and environment sciences and experimental development as well as contributes to the development
of modern agricultural and forestry sector. The mission of LAMMC is the conduct of basic and
applied research relevant for science, national economic development and ecological needs,
rational and sustainable use of land, forest and environmental resources and high quality production
in compliance with the envisaged major directions of the scientific activities; development of
experimental and other activities in the fields of agronomy, horticulture, forestry science, ecology
and other related braches; accumulation of new scientific knowledge, its systemization and
dissemination to the public; promotion of balanced and sustainable land and forest economy and
rural development. LAMMC consists of institutes (Institute of Forestry, Institute of Horticulture
and Institute of Agriculture), regional branches and research departments, other administration and
economy divisions. The Centre’s management bodies are collegial management body - the Centre’s
Science Board and one-man management body - Centre’s director. Various committees, necessary
for streamlined and effective activities of the Centre are formed.
Research and its organization. The LAMMC scientific potential, the existing and
regularly being updated experimental base enables the conduct of interdisciplinary and inter-branch
research, development of science attractive to agricultural and forestry business. According to the
nature of research organization, funding and topics, the LAMMC research is divided into several
groups. Firstly, it is institutional state-funded research, from which six major, long-term
institutional programmes have been formed: i) Biopotential and quality of plants for
multifunctional use, ii) Sustainable forestry and global changes, iii) Harmful organisms in agro and
forest ecosystems, iv) Horticulture: agrobiological foundations and technologies, v) Productivity
and sustainability of agricultural and forest soils, vi) Genetics and purposeful change of genotypes
of agricultural and forest plants.
The Centre carries out research and implements various programmes and projects obtained
by tender funding method and funded by the Ministries of Agriculture, National Economy, and
Environment; conducts various research and experimental development projects contracted by
foreign and national economic entities, participate in international scientific and development
programmes.
LAMMC was granted a right for doctoral studies in 4 science fields: agronomy and
forestry research jointly with Aleksandras Stulginskis University, ecology and environment
research jointly with Vytautas Magnus and Aleksandras Stulginskis Universities and Natural
Research Centre, biochemistry – jointly with Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuanian University
of Health Sciences and Nencki Experimental Biology Institute (Poland). The doctoral studies
provided by LAMMC conform to the contemporary goals of agricultural and forestry sciences, up-
to-date methods and facilities are used in research work.
To make better use of scientific knowledge and to address the multifunctional agricultural
problems, the staff of LAMMC actively joined the governmental program of science, education
and business development "Nemunas". For more active development scientific services LAMMC
has founded Fruit and Vegetable Processing Technologies Simulation Open Access Centre and
Open Access Centre for Agrobiological Research. Open Access Joint Research Centre of
Agriculture and Forestry was setup together with Aleksandras Stulginskis University.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
12
LAMMC in cooperation with Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian research and study
institutions published scientific journals Žemdirbystė-Agriculture (www.zemdirbyste-agriculture.lt)
and Baltic Forestry (www.balticforestry.mi.lt) with impact factors and referred in Web of
Science™ database.
LAMMC uses various methods to transfer the research information to its consumers –
researchers, farmers, foresters, agricultural experts and advisors, teachers of agricultural schools
and the general public. Each year, LAMMC organizes scientific conferences, seminars, field days,
researchers publish more than 150 scientific articles, more than 100 popular scientific publications.
New crop cultivation technologies or their components, new varieties and other valuable
information on the issues of agriculture and forestry are introduced in popular publications,
recommendations, information booklets etc. For most topical information please visit LAMMC
website: www.lammc.lt.
Institute of agriculture in LAMMC community. The Institute of Agriculture (Institute)
is one of the most important representatives in agronomy and related fields of science. The Institute
has its origins in the beginning of the 20th century, when the first research stations were set up in
Dotnuva (Dotnuva Breeding Station and Dotnuva Experimental Station). The Lithuanian Institute
of Agriculture was established in 1956 having amalgamated the Institute of Agriculture and Soil (in
Trakų Vokė) with the State Breeding Station (in Dotnuva) and the Dotnuva Experimental Station.
Other experimental stations operating at that time in various regions of the country were
incorporated into the system of the Institute. In the course of history, significant developments and
reorganizations have taken place in the research institutions. Upon the restoration of Lithuania’s
Independence, the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture has become an independent state institute. In
2010, Institute was joined to the LAMMC as a stem Institute.
Currently, the new knowledge, co-operation and openness are the major ambitions of the
Institute of Agriculture of LAMMC. The mission of Institute is the conduct of basic and applied
research, development of experimental activities in the field of agronomy and other related fields of
science, accumulation of new scientific know-how and its dissemination to the public. There is a
wide scope of research topics ranging from plant breeding and genetics to soil physics, from plant
nutrition processes to diseases, weeds and pest management, from agricultural microbiology to
sustainability of agroecosystems, to support mainstream objective of sustainable plant production
under ever changing climatic and socio-economic environment. Long-term research plans of the
Institute are broken into four long-term institutional state-funded research programmes of
LAMMC.
Cultivation technologies of major agricultural crops have been developed at the Institute.
The research results intended for practical application (farmers, agribusiness, policy makers, and
public at large) are published in professional newspapers and journals, disseminated during
practical seminars, field days, radio and TV broadcasts. A collection of short recommendations on
farming is annually published and distributed among farmers and other stakeholders. More than
270 varieties of field crops have been developed in Lithuania during the whole plant breeding
period. Many of newest varieties are successfully commercialised in Lithuania and in the USA,
Canada, Estonia, Latvia and other countries, therefore development of new plant varieties is being
continued.
Researchers of the Institute are encouraged to contribute with new topics of research,
initiate and perform basic and applied research projects addressing relevant problems of the
national economy, considering the regional pedo-climatic and farming conditions, as well as
consumption patterns. They are constantly searching for novel and competitive crop cultivation
technologies or their components meeting the environmental protection requirements and validated
by appropriate agronomic solutions as well as for methods of obtainment and utilization of plant
raw materials.
More about the structure, the researchers, their publications, projects and other information
we invite you to access the website www.lammczi.lt.
References 1. Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry: Research for Innovation (2015). 78 p.
2. Lietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centro veikla 2015 metais (Lithuanian Research Centre for
Agriculture and Forestry in 2015) (2016). (In Lithuanian). 42 p.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
13
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INOCULATION OF LEGUMES WITH RHIZOBIA
Ina Alsiņa, Laila Dubova, Alise Šenberga, Līga Zaharāne, Kristaps Zīverts, Marta Liepiņa
Institute of Soil and Plant Science, Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia
Only prokaryotes have the ability to use the reserves of nitrogen of the air. Rhizobia
forming on the plant roots nodules, in the symbiosis with legumes convert airborne inert nitrogen
(N2) in the organic form, which fits into plant proteins. At the end of vegetation, the plant death of
soil per year enriched with nitrogen is in the range of 30 to 364 kg per ha. Enrichment plant with
nitrogen, which is linked from the atmosphere with the help of bacteria, is an inexpensive and high-
quality method of increasing crop yields (Zahran, 1999; Baddeley et al., 2014). In Latvia, studies of
these bacteria were already launched by professor A. Kalniņš in the twenties of the last century.
The Rhizobia collection, originally created by professor A. Kalniņš was supplemented by his
students and same strains were included in several national rhizobium collections Worldwide.
Nowadays, the Rhizobia collection of Latvia University of Agriculture, Institute of Soil and Plant
Science, contains approximately 50 different streptomycin resistant rhizobium strains appropriate
for all legumes grown in Latvia.
Nowadays intensive Rhizobium and their host plant studies are renewed not only in Latvia
but also in the whole Europe due to their role in sustainable agriculture and protein crop
production. Thanks to this activity the significance of Rhizobia collection is updated and part of it
dealing with Rhizobium leguminosarum strains is included in investigations of 7th Framework
program project „Enhancing of legumes growing in Europe through sustainable cropping for
protein supply for food and feed” (EUROLEGUME).
The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of symbiosis of fava beans (Vicia
faba) and peas (Pisum sativum) with different Rhizobium leguminosarum stains in different soils of
Latvia.
Experiments were established to evaluate the effectiveness of Rhizobium leguminosarum
strains on legumes growth and productivity in the different soil types of Latvia. Rhizobium
leguminosarum strains (RP023, RP003, RV407 and RV505) were from the collection of Latvia
University of Agriculture. Experiments were done in Jelgava, Balvi, Jūrmala, Olaine, Vaidava and
Sece region. Experimental fields included different soil types – sandy, sandy loam and peat soils.
In the field experiments broad bean (Vicia faba var. major) cultivars ‘Bartek’ and ‘Karmazyn’,
field bean cultivars (Vicia faba var. minor) cultivars ‘Fuego’ and ‘Lielplatone’, and pea cultivars
‘Kelvedon Wonder’, ‘Vitra’, ‘Retrija’ and breeding line ‘H 91-14-43’ were grown. Seeds were
treated with suspension of bacteria before sowing. Control variant was without treatment with
microorganisms. Plant length, amount of dry matter, weight and formation of nodules was analysed
at the flowering stage. Number of pods, seed yield and protein content in seeds was examined at
the end of experiment. Results showed that the growth and yield responses of legumes species and
cultivars to inoculation with Rh. leguminosarum strains vary in different soil types and depending
on weather conditions of growing season. It is observed that better results were obtained when for
the inoculations of plants were used bacteria, obtained from the same species of crop. Different
plant species have a different response to the treatment with bacteria. The best results of pre-
sowing treatment with Rhizobium leguminosarum strains were obtained with grey peas and broad
bean cultivar ‘Bartek’. Rh. leguminosarum strain RV407, isolated from Vicia faba, was more
appropriate for inoculation of broad bean seeds, while stimulating protein accumulation more than
others.
Therefore for the establishment of effective preparations containing Rh. leguminosarum,
bacterial association containing different strains is recommended.
References 1. Baddeley, J.A., Jones, S., Topp, C.F.E., Watson, C.A., Helming, J., Stoddard, F.L. (2014). Biological
nitrogen fixation (BNF) by legume crops in Europe, 27 p. Available at:
http://www.legumefutures.de/images/Legume_Futures_Report_1.5.pdf.
2. Zahran, H.H. (1999). Rhizobium-Legume Symbiosis and Nitrogen Fixation under Severe Conditions and
in an Arid Climate. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev., No. 63(4), pp. 968–989.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
14
PULSES IN EUROPE AND IN ESTONIA
Maarika Alaru and Evelin Loit
Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia [email protected]
Due to their nitrogen-fixing properties, leguminous plants contribute to soil fertility and
have a positive impact on the environment. Additionally, legumes are a critical source of plant-
based proteins and amino acids for people around the globe as well as for livestock. In both areas,
fertilizers and protein crops, the EU has developed strong dependencies. On the one hand, nitrogen
fertilizer consumption in the EU27 is about 10 million tons per year with an import share of 20 –
26% over the past four years. The production of nitrogen fertilizers is highly dependent on natural
gas and the EU imported 62% of its overall gas energy needs in 2006 – 2010. On the other hand,
70% of protein-rich raw materials consumed in the EU are imported (42 million tons in 2009).
Compared with other major agricultural regions in the world, the EU dedicates a relatively small
area to legume crops and this has even decreased in recent decades. With regard to the potential
ecosystem services delivered by legumes, there has been an increasing demand to strengthen the
role of legumes in farming systems and agri-food/feed chains to meet agronomic, environmental
and economic objectives.
The following databases were used: FAOSTAT, EUROSTAT, STATISTIKAAMET
(Estonia). Field trial data was collected from the long-term experiment comparing the influence of
organic and conventional farming systems on different crops yield and yield quality, soil fertility,
nitrogen use efficiency. The field experiment was carried out near Tartu.
In the past three decades, global pulse production has grown rapidly. In the past ten years
alone, the world has produced between 50 and 60 million tons of pulses each year. As of 2015, the
world's biggest producers of pulses were India, Canada, Myanmar, China, Nigeria, Brazil,
Australia, USA, Russia, and Tanzania, while the world's most important pulse exporters also
include Argentina, France, Ethiopia, and Turkey. Because they are so healthy, nutritious and
versatile, pulses are becoming a more popular choice for food manufacturers all over the world as
an ingredient in breads, noodles, snacks, and gluten-free foods.
Legume family (Fabaceae) is the large family of dicots, including trees, shrubs, and
perennial or annual herbaceous plants. There are approximately 13000…19000 species altogether,
but only 200 are being cultivated. Humans have been using legumes for food for more than
9 thousand years. Legumes are also used in cosmetics and medicine, where they may have
beneficial effect on those who suffer from Parkinson’s disease, high cholesterol, cancer, alcoholism
etc.
Fig. 1. Proportion of pea and bean (dry) production (%) of some countries in EU in 2014
(FAOSTAT).
Pulses or grain legumes are mostly annual herbaceous plants like beans, lentils, lupins, peas
and peanuts – legumes that have 1 – 12 seeds in the pod. Dry seeds are highly valuable source of
protein and fibre.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Pro
po
rtio
n o
f p
rod
uct
ion i
n
EU
, %
0
5
10
15
20
25
30 pea
bean
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
15
There was total of 1379 thousand tons of peas and 231 thousand tons of beans produced in
Europe in 2014. The largest producer of peas was France (37.1%), followed by Germany (11.2%)
(Fig. 1). Lithuania contributed the most (7.3% of the total EU production) of peas among Baltic
countries. Pea production has decreased significantly from 5.4 million tons to 3 million tons during
2001 – 2013.
The largest producer of beans was Lithuania (27%), followed by Poland (16.6%) (Fig. 1).
Bean production decreased in the EU from 610 thousand of tons to 510 thousand tons in 2001 –
2013. Pea and bean production has increased in Estonia during the recent years (Fig. 2). Pea
production has increased six times over a twelve year period. Bean production was minimal in
2002 – 2012, but the production has been increasing recently.
Fig. 2. Production of pea and beans (tons) in Estonia in 2001–2013 (FAOSTAT).
Legumes are researched and bred in the Estonian Plant Production Institute and Estonian
University of Life Sciences. There is a bean cultivar ‘Jõgeva’ with the yield of
3.267 t ha-1
. Better yielding cultivars are needed, as for example in Germany the average yield is
more than 4 t ha-1
. However, the thousand seed weight is high in cultivar ‘Jõgeva’ – 775 g. In 2008,
a five field long-term field crop rotation experiment comparing organic and conventional growing
systems was established at the Estonian University of Life Sciences (58°22’ N, 26°40’ E). During
the crop cycle period five different crops followed each other in the order: barley (Hordeum
vulgare L.) with undersown red clover, red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), winter wheat (Triticum
aestivum L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). So far the focus has been on
potatoes and wheat, but there is a need to strengthen the research on peas.
To highlight the importance of legumes in crop rotation, there is a call within the EU
program Horizon 2020. Projects are expected to cover both conventional and organic sectors. They
will develop transition paths that aim to lift identified constraints on sustainable legume-based agri-
feed and food chains. Activities will involve transdisciplinary research, including the input from
social sciences and the humanities, to engage actors in developing the production and use of
legumes, including market aspects. Proposals should fall under the concept of the 'multi-actor
approach' and ensure adequate involvement of the farming sector.
References
1. FAOSTAT (accessed May 3, 2016)
2. EUROSTAT (accessed May 3, 2016)
3. STATISTIKAAMET, Estonia (accessed May 3, 2016)
4. Narits, L. (2015). The importance of pulses in agriculture. Available at: http://www.seemneliit.ee/wp-
content/uploads/2015/11/Kaunviljade-t%C3%A4htsus-p%C3%B5llumajanduses-L.Narits.pdf
(accessed May 3, 2016) (In Estonian).
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
Pro
du
ctio
n o
f p
ea i
n
Est
on
ia, t
0
500
1000
1500
2000
20
01
2
00
2
20
03
2
00
4
20
05
2
00
6
20
07
2
00
8
20
09
2
01
0
20
11
2
01
2
20
13
Pro
du
ctio
n o
f b
ean
in
Est
on
ia, t
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
16
LEGUMES FOR SUSTAINABILITY OF AGROECOSYSTEMS
Žydrė Kadžiulienė, Aušra Arlauskienė, Lina Šarūnaitė
Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Lithuania
Legumes are essential tool for adjustment of nutrient cycling in organic and other farming
systems, for improvement of subsequent crops grain quality, soil productivity, crop rotation health,
farm viability and sustainability. Legumes growing and potential applications in farming systems
are numerous, including species, varieties, cultivation techniques, purpose of use, frequency in crop
rotation etc. The capacity of legumes to fix atmospheric N and make it available to non-fixing
plants has made them as fertility building crops. This ecological service of legumes can be
provided through incorporation of legumes in crop rotation as main crop or pre-crop, as catch crop
or as intercrop and various combinations could be in crop rotations in different environmental
conditions and in farms with different purposes. Despite the benefits and increasing areas of
legumes, their management is complicated and use in crop rotations mostly is insufficient (Doltra,
Olesen, 2013; Nemecek et al., 2015; Magrini et al., 2016; Preisel et al., 2015). This paper aims to
discuss research on legumes benefits and results of research through a number of recent
experiments in Lithuanian Research Centre of Agriculture and Forestry and combine knowledge of
previous studies.
Grain legumes: pea, lupine, faba bean, vetch and spring wheat were sown as intercrops and
sole crops and were grown for grain organically in 2007 – 2009 on a loamy Endocalcari-
Ephypogleyic Cambisol in Dotnuva (55˚24' N, 23˚50' E), Lithuania. The influence of legume and
manure pellets on spring cereals productivity were investigated on a loamy soil at Dotnuva, and on
a heavy loam Cambisol at the Joniškėlis Experimental Station (56º21' N, 24º10' E). Oats and spring
wheat were grown respectively, in 2013 and 2014. Oats were sown sole, with undersowing of red
clover or in mixture with pea. To some treatments organic manure pellets (2 t ha-1
or 60 kg N ha-1
)
were used. In the second year of experiment spring wheat with fertilizing of organic manure pellets
or without it was sown. In 2015, barley was grown. In 2015, we started experiments with the
soyabean on a loamy soil in Dotnuva. Sowing date, row distances and other agrotechnological
measures will be tested. In our Research Centre, even more research was conducted with legumes,
which is not discussed in the summary, but will be interpreted during presentation.
Mixing species in cropping systems may lead to a range of benefits. First of all, it can act
as a short-term measure and increase the yield and quality. The productivity of spring wheat in
intercrops depended on the species of grain legume; however, the results varied over the
experimental years due to different weather conditions (Table 1). The concentration of crude
protein was higher in grain yield, when spring wheat had been grown in intercrops.
Table 1
The grain yield of legume grown as sole and intercrops with spring wheat
Treatment Grain yield, kg ha
-1 Crude protein, g kg
-1
2007 2008 2009 2007 2008 2009
Wheat 4132 2811 2496 115 101 122
Pea 3370 1107 2626 218 237 236
Lupin 2731 469 1323 236 239 302
Bean 3218 1011 1727 285 281 296
Vetch 2265 2214 1165 355 282 305
Wheat/pea 3876 2509 2406 124 133 132
Wheat/lupin 4037 1632 2654 120 109 134
Wheat/bean 3493 2668 2348 143 123 139
Wheat/vetch 4387 2645 2982 155 154 167
LSD0.5 246.7 446.5 382.3 15.5 7.0 7.57
The most common management factors that can contribute to support plant productivity and soil
fertility in organic system is legumes. However, using only the nitrogen fixed by legumes, it is not
easy to meet the nitrogen needs of other crops at the right time. It is therefore interesting to look at
combinations of pulses and newer forms of organic fertilizer as cow manure pellets. Grain yield of
spring wheat was affected by using of manure pellets and biomass of incorporated red clover in
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
17
both locations (Table 2). The benefit of nitrogen from manure pellets or red clover was reduced by
spread of weeds.
Table 2
Effect of legumes and manure pellets on spring cereals grain yield, kg ha-1
Treatment Oats, 2013 Spring wheat, 2014 Barley, 2015
Joniškėlis Dotnuva Joniškėlis Dotnuva Joniškėlis Dotnuva
O SW 5669 bc 3472 def 3767 ab 2643 ab 2491 abc 2336 abc
O SW+CMP 6033 cde 3348 cdef 4363 cd 2749 ab 2948 de 2568 abc
O+CMP SW 6322 de 2717 ab 4281 bcd 2622 ab 2683 bcd 2862 c
O+CMP SW+ CMP 6480 e 3482 def 4616 d 2700 ab 3241 e 2851 bc
O+CMP SW+WC 6322 de 3114 bcd 4162 bcd 2778 ab 5016 f 2804 abc
O+RC SW 5988 cde 3837 f 4420 cd 2764 ab 2456 bcd 2425 abc
O+RC SW+CMP 6154 cde 3772 ef 4482 cd 2820 ab 2767 cd 2536 abc
MOP SW 5294 b 2856 abc 4323 bcd 2705 ab 2536 abc 2306 a
P SW 3051 a 2525 a 4308 bcd 2700 ab 2286 a 2432 abc
RC SW 0 0 3603 a 3023 b 2405 ab 2590 abc
Mean 5701 3236 4232 2750 2883 2571
O–Oats, RC–Red clover, MOP– mixture of oats and peas, P–peas, SW– Spring wheat , WC–white
clover, CMP–cattle manure pellets (2 t ha-1
or 60 kg N ha-1
). Different letters indicate significant
differences at p < 0.05.
Sowing time affected the soy yields (Table 3). Soybean yielded better when sown in later
sowing time. Inoculated soybean seeds produced a bigger seeds than not inoculated. Row spacing
on seed yield had little effect.
Table 3
Effect of sowing date and row distances on soya production Treatments
Seed yield,
kg ha-1
Weight
of 1000
seeds, g
Plant m-2
Pods m-2
Seeds in
pod Sowing
date
Non or inoculated
seeds
Row
distances
Early Non
50 cm
2301 143 62 472 2.3
Ino 2608 151 71 511 2.6
Non
25 cm
2525 140 85 536 2.0
Ino 2858 155 86 552 2.1
Late Non
50 cm
2423 144 64 482 2.4
Ino 2745 152 66 502 2.6
Non
25 cm
2934 148 78 545 2.2
Ino 2978 151 75 551 2.4
LSD0.5 251 0.05 5.8 51 0.2
Our results indicate that the productivity and the quality can be improved by the use of
legumes and in combination with other management factors, but for more reliable conclusions
more experiments are needed.
References 1. Doltra, J., Olesen, J. E. (2013). The role of catch crops in the ecological intensification of spring cereals
in organic farming under Nordic climate. Europ. J. Agronomy, Vol. 44, pp. 98–108.
2. Magrini, M.-B., Anton, M., Cholez, C., Corre-Hellou, G., Duc, G., Jeuffroy, M.-H., Meynard, J.-M.,
Pelzer, E., Voisin, A.-S., Walrand, S. (2016). Why are grain-legumes rarely present in cropping systems
despite their environmental and nutritional benefits? Analyzing lock-in in the French agrifood system.
Ecological Economics, Vol. 126, pp. 152–162.
3. Nemecek, T., Hayer, F., Bonnin, E., Carrouée, B., Schneider, A., Vivier, C. (2015). Designing eco-
efficient crop rotations using life cycle assessment of crop combinations. Europ. J. Agronomy, Vol. 65,
pp. 40–51.
4. Preissel, S., Reckling, M., Schläfke, N., Zandera, P. (2015). Magnitude and farm-economic value of grain
legume pre-crop benefits in Europe: A review. Field Crops Research, Vol. 175, pp. 64–79.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
18
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL
RESEARCH PRGOGRAMME AGROBIORES (2014–2017)
Ruta Galoburda
Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia
The aim of the National Research Programme “Agricultural Resources for Sustainable
Production of Qualitative and Healthy Foods in Latvia” (AgroBioRes) – development of the
knowledge base for the sustainable use of agricultural technologies in quality food raw material
production, processing, and control of raw materials and foods in Latvia, in order to provide
consumers with healthy and safe food products of local origin, promoting agriculture and food
sector growth and competitiveness.
Within the programme for achieving set aims and fulfilment of the tasks, five mutually
interlinked projects are established.
Project No. 1 Sustainable use of soil resources and abatement of fertilisation risks (SOIL) – leader
Dr. habil. agr. Antons Ruza, executors Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Rural Engineering at
Latvia University of Agriculture (LLU).
Project No. 2 Biological processes influencing sustainable fruit growing and widening possibilities
for use of by-products (FRUITS) – Ph. D. Inga Morocko-Bicevska, executor Institute of
Horticulture, former Latvia State Institute of Fruit-Growing.
Project No. 3 Genetic research on local dairy cows and pigs economically important traits to
produce quality food products, development and approbation of natural origin feed components for
animals’ nutrition (LIVESTOCK) – Dr. agr. Daina Jonkus, executor Faculty of Agriculture and
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at LLU.
Project No. 4 Sustainable use of local agricultural resources for qualitative and healthy food
product development (FOOD) – Dr. sc. ing. Tatjana Kince, executors Faculty of Food Technology
(LLU), Stende and Priekuļi research centres of Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics
(former State Stende Cereal Breeding Institute and former State Priekuli Plant Breeding Institute).
Project No. 5 (RISKS) Resistance of microorganisms and other biological and chemical risks
research procedures development and application in the food chain (RISKS) – Dr. med. vet., Ph. D.
Aivars Berzins, executor Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment „BIOR”.
Projects supplement each other because they cover all food production chain “from stable
to table”, starting from sustainable production of agricultural products in agriculture, fruit-growing,
and livestock farming. Further development of raw material processing is drawing attention to new
niche products and utilization of food production by-products, and evaluation of biological and
chemical hazards in whole chain of production and processing.
In the project “SOIL” activities are carried out to reach the aims: development of the
knowledge basis for fertilization planning and mitigation of eventual nitrogen and phosphorus
losses from agricultural land; study of the impact of main technologies used for field crop
cultivation on soil sustainability and biological diversity. Fertilisation trials including soil Nmin. (N–
NO3 + N–NH4) monitoring have been realised in 5 geographic locations all together in 18 plots.
Soil sampling was done in three depths (0–30; 30–60 and 60–90 cm) monthly during the
vegetation. Detailed investigation of soil physical and chemical properties was done. These plots
will be used also for the following years investigations; therefore, obtained data will be useful to
model the nitrogen and phosphorous turnover in the soil. In three locations soil data is possible to
combine with agricultural run-off measurements (separate project); therefore, complex data set is
expected to be obtained. Evaluation of impact of technologies (soil tillage and crop sequence) on
the possibilities for sustainable soil use and biodiversity conservation was continued. Microbial
biomass increased in plots without soil inversion in comparison with conventional tillage with soil
inversion. The activity of cellulose microbial degradation decreased in the plots without crop
rotation. Oculimacula spp. (36%) and Microdochium nivale (21%) were dominant causal agents of
wheat stem base and root rot. Obtained results confirmed variability of pathogen’s spectrum and
probable, pathogens, which were considered as insignificant become harmful. Elevated level of
mycotoxin in wheat grains was determined in plots with continuous sowings and reduced soil
tillage. Different species of Fusarium were found in maize grains and peas as well as, risk of
mycotoxins accumulation in grains and seeds increased under conditions of intensive crop
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
19
production. The ground beetles and possibly also rove beetles are important indicators of many
agro-ecological factors. The field method (a grid of 24 sample plots) was acknowledged as useful
for studies of ground beetles inhabiting field crops. Different natural and semi-natural landscape
elements provide 32.8% of ground beetle species recognized in the studied wheat fields. The pre-
crop significantly affected species structure and biodiversity of rove beetles, but the intensity of
soil tillage did not affect those parameters.
Two aims are set for the project “FRUIT” – (1) development of scientific knowledge on
important biological factors affecting fruit and berry quality for ensuring production and nutritional
quality and (2) development of processing technologies for widening possibilities for the use of
fruits and by-products and diversification of the market. The project focuses on the detection of
occurrence of most important diseases affecting apple and pear fruits, identification of their causal
agents, and providing scientific data for improvement of the control; elucidation of genetic and
biological aspects of fruit tree and pathogenic fungi interactions in the orchard and during the
storage, and providing scientific knowledge for improvement of the control; improvement of
detection methods of fruit harvesting time, assessing fruit ripening process impact on storage
period extension, combining with 1-MCP treatment for ensuring of fruit quality during the storage;
evaluation of Latvian local selection outdoor grapevines for purposeful maintenance and for
widening of possibilities of utilization; studies of chemical content (stilbenes, e.g. resveratrol,
phenolic acids, procyanidins etc.) in Latvian local selection grapes for widening of utilization;
development of innovative products containing biologically active substances using fruit and berry
growing and processing by-products (e.g. shoots, fruitlets, seeds).
The project “LIVESTOCK” deals with explanation of the genetic suitability of local breeds
of dairy cattle and swine for high-quality food (cheese and meat) production and is working out
recommendations for a new feed component of natural origin (containing additives containing
bacteriocins, prebiotics and symbiotics) for farm animals (pigs and cows) to improve composition
of micro flora in the digestive canal, for disease prevention and treatment that will increase animal
productivity and create prerequisites for high quality raw food production, safe for human
consumption.
Within the project “FOOD” wide range of raw materials have been evaluated – diversity of
barley and oats, rye and triticale grain, and potato. The project deals with the development of new
food products for special task groups (gluten-free, diabetes prevention etc.) by using of gluten-free
croppers (buckwheat etc.) and legumes additionally diversifying of existing assortment;
development of solutions for the use of agriculture and food production by-products and its
biologically active compounds application in food with elevated value; determination of the
obtained products sensory properties, nutrients (carbohydrates, dietary fibre, proteins, amino acids,
vitamins, mineral substances, carotenoids, phenols etc.), investigation of textural properties
(hardness, extensibility etc.), physical parameters (moisture, colour etc.) and microstructure
changes during processing and storage; evaluation of new and/or improved food products shelf-life
by identification and assessing of possible microbiological contamination risks, as well as
performing microbiological analysis; determination of optimal shelf-life conditions for developed
food products by using the latest packaging materials and technologies.
The main activities carried out in the project “RISKS” deal with studying and identifying
the occurrence of resistant microorganisms in farm animals and food chain, and develop new
knowledge about development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) mechanisms; investigation of the
correlation between AMR and veterinary drug usage in animal feed and medicine and inform
professionals and the public about the resistance containment and opportunities; development and
implementation of modern diagnostic and analytical methods that will support research on food
raw materials, products and environment, gaining knowledge on risks to humans.
Acknowledgment. Programme AgroBioRes is supported by Ministry of Education and Science
and Administration of Studies and Research of Latvia.
References
More detailed information on the National Research Programme AgroBioRes can be found at
www.agrobiores.lv.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
20
FERTILISER NORMATIVES – ADJUSTMENT FOR LOCAL SOIL CONDITIONS
Aldis Karklins, Antons Ruza
Faculty of Agriculture, Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia
Following requirements of EU Nitrate directive and Code of Good Agricultural Practice,
there are several guides for manure application and fertiliser use especially those containing
nitrogen in Latvia. Maximum permissible amount of nitrogen used by manure and by mineral
fertilisers, recommended nitrogen rates for different crops, advises for fertiliser planning and
application etc. are examples of such regulations (Lauku kultūraugu …, 2013; Regulation
Regarding …, 2014). In general, these regulations are quite well accepted by farmers and used in
practical farming activities. The only shortcoming of these activities – soils and farming methods
are very variable and therefore different adjustments might be necessary for the standard guidelines
to keep at least nitrogen management in a good shape. Also, a part of farmers is more and more
arguing because they are dissatisfied with regulations which limit their attempts to intensify crop
production. They are using high demanding varieties or hybrids, crop monitoring systems, site-
specific fertiliser application equipment etc. high-tech solutions giving possibility for more
accurate fertiliser use and more effective nutrient turnover. Therefore, standard schemes or country
averages not always fit or not always are reasonable for these situations.
To satisfy the needs of intensive farming and to monitor environmental risks, a new project
„Sustainable use of soil resources and abatement of fertilisation risks” was started in 2014, which is
related to the Latvia State Research Program for the time period up to 2017. The objectives of the
first chapter of the project are:
assessment of soil and water pollution in agriculture to evaluate the leakage of nitrogen
and phosphorus from different soils and depending on fertilizer application rates;
development of the propositions for nutrient application rates taking into consideration
leaching risks and soil water retention capacity;
determination of nitrogen losses and its apparent recovery from used fertilizers depending
on different methods of application and incorporation.
The novelty of this project includes mainly the following aspects. Firstly, obtained results
of field trials and soil investigations are combined with those, obtained from the subsurface water
quality measurements. Nitrogen and phosphorous concentration in subsurface water from the plots
of experiments gives more detailed information about environmental risks of fertiliser use and
could be combined together with traditional methods of assessment of fertiliser use efficiency.
Secondly, more detailed attention is paid to soil physical properties. Leaching risks for
mobile nutrients, e.g. mineral nitrogen mostly depends on such parameters like soil porosity, bulk
density, structure, infiltration rate, water holding capacity. These parameters not always were tested
before, when fertiliser experiments were carried out.
Methods of soil tillage, like traditional ploughing and reduced plough-less tillage are the
next factors due to the fact that many farmers more and more use the last alternative in their fields.
Reduced tillage together with postharvest residues incorporation may significantly change the
pattern of nitrogen transformations due to the microbiological activity and also due to the change of
soil physical properties.
Assessment methods for evaluation of soil nitrogen pool include the total nitrogen.
Although the total nitrogen reserves are quite stable and many factors influence its transformations
and release in the plant available forms, however this pool is a starting point for the following
changes. One example is so called organic soils – soils rich with organic matter and subsequently
with the total nitrogen. In such soils special attention should be paid to the use of nitrogen
containing fertilisers.
Monitoring of mineral nitrogen content in the soil and consideration of these amounts in
fertilisation planning and application of nitrogen containing fertilisers and manures. This aspect is
quite difficult due to the variability of soils and farming practice, meteorological conditions,
biological activity etc. Actually, on the one hand, this is a finishing point of soil nitrogen
transformations, but at the same time it is a starting point for plant nitrogen uptake. If we are not
able to assess this parameter realistically, recommendations for nitrogen fertiliser use will be only
approximation.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
21
All in all, this research should end with the updated and improved fertiliser normatives
providing a possibility for better differentiation of fertiliser rates and assessment of feasible
nitrogen excess if high amounts are used. By this we will try to avoid the situation when fertiliser
recommendations are fixed for somewhat average farming level, and farmers using more advanced
technologies and producing high yields year by year are limited by certain regulations.
Simultaneously with the fate of nitrogen in the system: soil – crops – water, also attention
is paid to phosphorous. Phosphates of course are more persistent in the soil, but anyway, erosion,
surface run-of and other factors may cause its transport up to waterbodies. Therefore, monitoring
results of phosphorous concentration in surface and subsurface waters is combined together with
specific soil properties (including physical) and fertiliser use.
Taking into consideration relatively large scope of objectives, several tasks, which are
rather complicated and time and money consuming, might be useful topic for some cooperation.
Nitrogen and phosphorous are nutrients which will be under the focus permanently and we will
expect stricter and stricter regulations on this area. Soil and climate conditions as well as farming
practice in the Baltic States are more or less similar. Therefore, the general conception about the
interpretation of several aspects and also evaluation of soil nitrogen status, crop requirements,
modelling of nitrogen transformations and dynamics, potential losses etc. also could be developed
together.
Acknowledgements
The research was funded by the project „Sustainable use of soil resources and abatement of
fertilisation risks” related to the Latvia State Research Program AgroBioRes (2014–2017).
References
1. Lauku kultūraugu mēslošanas normatīvi (Fertiliser Recommendations for Agricultural Crops) (2013).
Sast. A. Kārkliņš, A. Ruža. LLU, Jelgava, 55 lpp. (In Latvian).
2. Regulation Regarding Protection of Water and Soil from Pollution with Nitrates Caused by Agricultural
Activity. Cabinet Regulation No. 834; Adopted 23 December 2014, Republic of Latvia. Available at:
http://vvc.gov.lv/export/sites/default/docs/LRTA/MK_Noteikumi/Cab._Reg._No._834_-
_Protection_of_Water_and_Soil_from_Pollution.pdf (accessed May 3, 2016).
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
22
THE INFLUENCE OF TILLAGE ON SOIL MICROBIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY
Laila Dubova1, Antons Ruža
2, Ina Alsiņa
1
1Institute of Soil and Plant Sciences;
2Institute of Agrobiotechnology
Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia
Soil tillage practices affect the soil microbial community in various ways with possible
consequences for nitrogen (N) losses, plant growth, and soil organic carbon (C) decomposition. On
the other hand, soil microorganisms are involved in biochemical processes that include the
decomposition of plant residues and the transformations of organic matter, affect the mineralization
of plant available nutrients, and influence the efficiency of nutrient cycles (Jackson et al., 2012). The
soil microbial composition and activity determine its potential for substrate catalysis since most of the
processes occurring in soil are microbe-mediated and carried out by enzymes. The process of soil
aggregation, which is an important regulator of organic matter dynamics and soil fertility, is expected
to be closely related to changes in microbial communities (Anderson, 2003; Tiemann et al., 2015).
The present study was aimed at estimating the effect of conventional and minimum tillage
systems on soil microbiological activity. The long term trials were established in the experimental
fields of the Latvia University of Agriculture. The crops were cultivated both in a monoculture
(winter wheat) and using crop rotation (winter wheat–rape; winter wheat–rape–faba bean). Soil
samples were taken from two soil layers (at the depths of 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm) using an auger
with a 2-cm diameter. Field-moist samples were stored in plastic bags at 4 °C for soil biological
activity analysis. Soil respiration intensity was measured by changes of carbon dioxide, while
microbial biomass was calculated according to substrate that induced respiration. Soil enzymatic
activity was assessed by oxidative enzymes (dehydrogenase) activity and fluorescein diacetate (FDA)
hydrolysis, which characterize complex activity of some hydrolytic enzymes (esterases, proteases,
lipases) and cellulose degradation activity was determined by using linen pieces.
The obtained data show that weather conditions significantly affected the activity of
microorganisms. Despite the fact that the response of soil microbial biomass to tillage varied, soil
microorganisms’ biomass is less affected by tillage system in comparison with soil microorganisms’
activity. Minimum tillage leaves a significant amount of plant residues in the soil surface. Although
the upper soil layer has a higher potential of microbiological activity, the minimum soil tillage does
not provide an even decomposition of plant residues. The microbiological activity in the deeper soil
(10 – 20 cm) layer fluctuated not so significantly as in the upper soil layer.
The research was supported by the State research programme “Agricultural Resources for
Sustainable Production of Qualitative and Healthy Foods in Latvia”, Project No. 1 Sustainable use
of soil resources and abatement of fertilisation risks (SOIL).
References
1. Anderson, T.H. (2003). Microbial eco-physiological indicators to assess soil quality. Agriculture,
Ecosystems and Environment, Vol. 98, pp. 285–293
2. Jackson, L.E., Bowles, T.M., Hodson, A.K., Lazcano, C. (2012). Soil microbial-root and microbial-
rhizosphere processes to increase nitrogen availability and retention in groecosystems. Current Opinion
in Environmental Sustainability, No. 4, pp. 517–522.
3. Tiemann, L.K., Grandy, A.S., Atkinson, E.E., Marin-Spiotta, E., McDaniel, M.D. (2015). Crop rotational
diversity enhances belowground communities and functions in an agroecosystem. Ecology Letters, doi:
10.1111/ele.12453.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
23
INFLUENCE OF MINIMAL SOIL TILLAGE AND CROP ROTATION ON WEED
POPULATION IN CROPS
Maija Ausmane, Indulis Melngalvis, Antons Ruža
Latvia University of Agriculture, Institute of Soil and Plant Sciences, Latvia
Soil tillage is one of the main methods to reduce weed pressure. Ordinary, soil tillage is the
most powerful regulator of the weed flora on arable land, however, reduced tillage leads to
increased numbers and changed proportions of weed species, some of which become increasingly
problematic if not controlled by herbicides (Hakanson, 2003; Wozniak, 2011). Weed population
density may be markedly reduced using crop rotation strategy (Liebman, Davis, 2000).
The objective of the present trial was to investigate the impact of soil tillage systems on
weed incidence in the crop rotations with different crop sequence.
A long-term field experiment was established at the Study and Research Farm “Peterlauki”
of the Latvia University of Agriculture in 2008 (55 30’ 7” N; 23 41’ 6” E). The soil of the
experimental site is Cambic Calcisoil (Endogleyc, Bathyruptic, Episiltic), sandy loam. Organic
matter – 21.0 g kg-1
, K2O – 295 mg kg-1
, P2O5 – 148 mg kg-1
, pH KCl – 7.1.
Two tillage systems: 1. conventional tillage (CT) plough tillage at the depth 0.22–0.23 m
with mouldboard plough, and 2. reduced tillage (RT) – shallow tillage at the depth 0.10–0.12 m
with disc harrow were compared in three different crop rotations: 1) spring wheat – winter wheat –
winter wheat – spring wheat – winter wheat; 2) spring oilseed rape – winter wheat – winter oilseed
rape – spring barley - spring oilseed rape; 3) spring barley – winter barley - winter oilseed rape –
spring wheat – field beans. Weeds were counted before the harvest of crops. Herbicides registered
in Latvia were used, chosen according to weed species composition, and abundance. Spray
applications were made according to the experimental design.
The paper presents the results of studies during the time period 2011 – 2015.
Annual weeds were the most important group of weeds in all treatments. During the five
years of investigation, comparing the RT and CT systems, the total number of weeds on average
during 2011 – 2015 in the 1; 2 and 3 crop rotations were respectively: 1) 56.6 and 21.4, 2) 43 and
16.4, 3) 25.0 and 25.0 plants m-2
, perennial weeds: 1) 9.8 and 3.2; 2) 7.2 and 1.2; 3) 11.6 and 1.0
plants m-2
. Reduced soil tillage significantly increased incidence of perennial weeds (P < 0.05), but
influence of crop rotation was not essential. Reduced soil tillage increased the total number of
weeds by 50%.
Reduced soil tillage significantly increased the incidence of perennial weeds, but influence
of crop rotation was not essential.
Research was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Agriculture Influence of minimal
soil tillage on its fertility maintenance, development and distribution of pests as well as crops’ yield
and quality in resowings.
References
1. Hakansson, S. (2003). Weeds and weed management on arable land: An ecological approach. CABI
Publishing, 274 p.
2. Wozniak, A. (2011). Weed infestation of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop under the conditions
of plough and ploughless tillage. Acta Agrobotanica, Vol. 64(3), pp. 133–140.
3. Liebman, M., Davis, A. (2000). Integration of soil, crop and weed management in low-external input
farming systems. Weed Research, No. 40, pp. 27–47.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
24
EFFECT OF SOIL TILLAGE AND CROP ROTATION ON
THE DEVELOPMENT OF WHEAT DISEASES
Biruta Bankina1, Gunita Bimšteine
1, Antons Ruža
2, Ance Roga
3, Dāvids Fridmanis
3
1Latvia University of Agriculture, Institute of Soil and Plant Sciences, Latvia;
2Latvia University of
Agriculture, Institute of Agrobiotechnology, Latvia; 3Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre
Winter wheat is one of the most beneficial and widely sown crop in Latvia. Crop rotation
and soil ploughing have been reported as main factors that influenced development of wheat
diseases; however, investigations over the world demonstrate importance of other factors as well.
Conventional ploughing in general decrease development of wheat stem base (crown) and root rot,
but in some cases opposite results were observed (Matusinsky et al., 2009; Fernandez et al., 2011;
Bankina et al., 2013). Severity of tan spot was significantly increased under reduced tillage,
especially in continuous wheat sowings (Jørgensen, Olsen, 2007; Bankina et al., 2015).
The aim of this study is to clarify effect of soil tillage and crop rotation schemes on the
development of wheat crown rot and leaf diseases.
Long-term experimental field plots were established at the Study and Research farm
“Peterlauki” of the Latvia University of Agriculture in the autumn of 2008. In this study, the
development of diseases during 2012 – 2015 was evaluated. All wheat plots (12 plots every year)
were arranged as two factors: A – soil tillage (1 – plough tillage with a mouldboard plough; 2 –
shallow tillage with a disc harrow); B – crop sequence (1 – continuous wheat (W – W); 2 – short
crop rotation, including only wheat and oilseed rape (W – OR); 3 – crop sequence, including barley
and faba beans in 2014 (CS).
The incidence of the complex of stem base diseases (crown and root rot) was determined
after wheat harvesting. Leaf diseases were assessed weekly. AUDPC (area under diseases progress
curve) was calculated to express impact of disease during the whole season of vegetation. Causal
agents of stem base and root rot were identified by mycological methods, but the results were
confirmed by molecular analyses.
All agronomic measures were applied uniformly, according to the requirements of
agronomic practice in Central Latvia in the vegetation season. Fungicides against stem-base
diseases were not used, but foliar fungicides (epoxiconazole, 84 g L-1
, and fenpropimorph,
150 g L-1
, 1.5 L ha-1
) were sprayed across all wheat plots at the heading stage. For the statistical
analyses of the incidence of crown and root rot, a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was
performed.
Level of crown and root rot fluctuated significantly depending on a year. The method of soil
tillage did not affect development of this disease, but lack of crop rotation increased incidence of
crown and root rot (p = 0.04); however, this influence was expressed more clearly in the fields
without ploughing (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1. Development of crown and root rot depending on year and crop sequence under soil tillage
without ploughing: W-W – only wheat; W-OR – wheat and oilseed rape; CS – other crops
(barley, faba beans were included).
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
25
All together 5332 isolates were obtained from symptomatic plants. The dominated
pathogen’s genera were Oculimacula and Fusarium/Gibberella. Both species of Oculimacula spp.
(O. yallundae and O. acuformis) were determined. Bipolaris sorokiniana, Rhizoctonia spp.,
Gaeumannomyces graminis were found only in some cases. G. avenacea, G. tricincta and
F. culmorum were identified more frequently, but relative density of Gibberella zeae was low, only
0.6%. Agrotechnical measurements did not influence spectrum of pathogens significantly.
Tan spot, caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis was the dominated disease, Septoria leaf
blotch, caused by Zymoseptoria tritici was found every year as well, but incidence of other leaf
diseases was low, severity did not reach 2%.
Crop sequence and soil tillage method essentially affected level of tan spot, p<0.001 and
p<0.01 respectively (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2. Development of tan spot depending on soil tillage and crop sequence, average 2012 – 2015:
W-W – only wheat; W-OR – wheat and oilseed rape; CS – other crops
(barley, faba beans were included).
Continuous wheat sowings are the main risk factor, which promote development of tan spot,
but ploughing can mitigate this influence.
Ploughing and crop rotation can significantly decrease the level of some diseases, but the
effect is dependent on a year and causal agent’s biological peculiarities.
Research was supported by State Research Programme, Project No. 1 “Sustainable use of
soil resources and abatement of fertilisation risks”.
References.
1. Bankina, B., Bimšteine, G., Ruža A., Priekule, I., Paura, L., Vaivade, I., Fridmanis, D. (2013). Winter
wheat crown and root rot are affected by soil tillage and crop rotation in Latvia. Acta Agriculturae
Scandinavica, section B – Soil & Plant Science, No. 63(8), pp. 723–730.
2. Bankina, B., Ruža, A., Paura, L., Priekule, I. (2015). The effects of soil tillage and crop rotation on the
development of winter wheat leaf diseases. Zemdirbyste-Agriculture, No. 102(1), pp. 67-72.
3. Jørgensen, L.N., Olsen, L.V. (2007). Control of tan spot (Drechslera tritici-repentis) using cultivar
resistance, tillage methods and fungicides. Crop Protection, No. 26 (11), pp. 1606–1616.
4. Matusinsky, P., Mikolasova, R., Klem, K., Spitzer, T. (2009). Eyespot infection risks on wheat with
respect to climatic conditions and soil management. Journal of Plant Pathology, No. 91(1), pp. 93–101.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
26
THE PHENOLOGY OF GROUND BEETLES (CARABIDAE) IN DIFFERENTLY
MANAGED WINTER WHEAT FIELDS
Janis Gailis, Inara Turka
Latvia University of Agriculture, Institute of Soil and Plant Sciences, Latvia
Ground beetles (Carabidae) are species-rich family of insects. Mostly, these are epigeic
beetles inhabiting different terrestrial habitats including agricultural land. In agriculture, ground
beetles are beneficial organisms as predators of different crop pests and weed seeds. In Latvia, only
sporadic studies have been carried out on these issues, thus there is lack of knowledge on ecology
of ground beetles inhabiting different crops. Objective of this study is to analyse phenology of
ground beetles species community inhabiting winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) fields with
differently tilled soil and different crop rotations.
The research was carried out in Latvia University of Agriculture Research and Study Farm
‘Peterlauki’ (56o30’39.38’’N; 23
o41’30.15’’E) during 2012 and 2013. A grid of 24 sample plots
(0.25 ha; 30 x 85 m), created in 2009, was used for the study. The main soil treatment for each
12 plots was ploughing (0.22-0.23 m) and non-inverse tillage (0.10-0.11 m) with a disc harrow. In
each season, six ploughed and six harrowed sample plots were sown with winter wheat (variety
‘Zentos’), and these sample plots were used for this study. Other field crops were sowed in other
sample plots. Spring rapeseed (Brassica napus), spring and winter wheat were pre-crops in winter
wheat sample plots in 2012, but in 2013, winter wheat and spring rapeseed were used as pre-crops.
It formed six and four combinations of both agro-ecological factors – soil tillage and pre-crop –
each year, correspondingly. Plastic glasses (200 ml), half filled with 4-5% vinegar, were used as
pitfall traps for collecting of ground beetles. Ten traps were placed in 30 m long cornerwise
transect in each sample plot. Exposition of them started in the spring (17 April 2012 and 23 April
2013), but ended a few days before harvesting of winter wheat (31 July 2012 and 30 July 2013).
The traps were emptied every seven days. Species of beetles were identified after Freude et al.
(2004), but the dominance structure of ground beetle species was calculated according to
Engelmann (1978).
Results of the study show that soil tillage and crop rotation affect species community of
ground beetles inhabiting winter wheat fields. This effect was evident during the whole growing
season. At the beginning of vegetation season, mostly different Bembidion species and Poecilus
cupreus noticeably dominated over other species. These are typical spring-active ground beetles. At
this time, species community was significantly less balanced in ploughed sample plots than in non-
inverse tilled ones. This state lasted until June when summer-active ground beetles, e.g., Harpalus
rufipes, Pterostichus melanarius, P. niger and Loricera pilicornis started to appear as dominant or
subdominant species. This situation was particularly evident in 2013. Pterostichus melanarius was
less abundant in sample plots with rapeseed as pre-crop. Especially in 2012, this species was
almost absent from these plots. It corresponds with other studies showing that P. melanarius is
conservative species which does not like crop rotation (Lövei, 1984). Other species Amara plebeja
was noticeably abundant in non-inverse tilled sample plots without a real long-term plant rotation –
spring wheat pre-crop in 2012, but winter wheat – in 2013. Comparably more seeds producing
weeds were observed in these sample plots than in other ones, but A. plebeja is a well-known seed
predator of different herbaceous plants. It explains why this species was the most dominant
(in 2012) or subdominant (in 2013) ground beetle in sample plots mentioned previously, but scarce
in other sample plots.
The research was supported by National Research Programme “Agricultural Resources for
Sustainable Production of Qualitative and Healthy Foods in Latvia”, the project “Sustainable use of
soil resources and abatement of fertilisation risks”.
References
1. Engelmann, H.-D. (1978). Zur Dominanzklassifizierung von Bodenarthropoden. Pedobiologia, No. 18,
pp. 378–380.
2. Freude, H., Harde, K.-W., Lohse, G.A., Klausnitzer, B. (2004). Die Käfer Mitteleuropas. Band 2.
Adephaga 1. Carabidae (Laufkäfer). Spektrum Akademisher Verlag, Heidelberg, 521 S.
3. Lövei, G.L. (1984). Ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in two Types of Maize Fields in Hungary.
Pedobiologia, No. 26, pp. 57–64.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
27
MANAGEMENT OF BUMBLEBEES TO DELIVER BIOCONTROL
AGENTS IN OPEN FIELD CONDITIONS
Marika Mänd, Reet Karise
Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonia
Strawberry Fragaria × ananassa is a valued fruit crop grown worldwide, but diseases such
as a grey mould Botrytis cinerea frequently limit the yield. The majority of the grey mould
infection on fruits originates from flowering period (Williamson et al., 2007). The use of foraging
bees as disseminators of microbial control agents (MCAs) to flowers is known as entomovector
technology (Mommaerts, Smagghe, 2011). Multiple researchers have shown that bumblebees can
efficiently vector MCAs (Peng et al., 1992; Reeh et al., 2014); however, most of studies have been
conducted under greenhouse conditions (Kevan et al., 2003; Mommaerts et al., 2011). The aim of
this study was to investigate to what extent a bumblebees Bombus terrestris visit strawberry
flowers and whether it can suppress Botrytis cinerea in open field conditions where many
competing plant species are flowering simultaneously. Bumblebee triple hives were placed near strawberry fields in Southern Estonia (Rõhu 0.5 ha
and Polli 2 ha) in 2012 – 2014. Each hive had a special dispenser attached containing the
biofungicide Prestop-Mix. Two treatments were established: bee-delivered Prestop-Mix treatment
and isolated control. To estimate the effect of the bumblebee delivered Prestop Mix on grey mould
infection rate, the healthy and Botrytis-infected berries were counted. Pollen pellets from homing
forager bumblebees were gathered (n = 960) and identified.
The study showed that bumblebee gathered pollen contained on average 20 – 25%
strawberry pollen and 1/3 of them visited mostly strawberry during one foraging trip. The rate of
strawberry infection by grey mould was lower on the plots that were visited by bumblebees
compared to isolated control plots: in 2012 – 65.3 % (p = 0.007); in 2013 – 37.3% (p = 0.043) and
in 2014 – 4.7% (p = 0.72). This study provides strong evidence that bumblebees can vector a MCA
to reduce significant B. cinerea incidence not only in greenhouse strawberries, but also in open
field conditions where the landscape is heterogeneous with many competing flowers.
References
1. Williamson, B., Tudzynski, B., Tudzynski, P. Van Kan, J.A.L. (2007). Botrytis cinerea: the cause of grey
mould disease. Molecular Plant Pathology, No. 8, pp. 561–580.
2. Mommaerts, V., Smagghe, G. (2011). Entomovectoring in plant protection. Arthropod-Plant
Interactions, No. 5, pp. 81–95.
3. Peng, G., Sutton, J.C., Kevan, P.G. (1992). Effectiveness of Honey Bees for Applying the Biocontrol
Agent Gliocladium roseum to Strawberry Flowers to Suppress Botrytis cinerea. Canadian Journal of
Plant Pathology, No. 14, pp. 117–129.
4. Reeh, K.W., Hillier, N.K., Cutler, G.C. (2014). Potential of bumblebees as bio-vectors of Clonostachys
rosea for Botrytis blight management in lowbush blueberry. Journal of Pest Science, No.87, pp. 543–550.
5. Kevan P.G., Al-Mazra’awi, M.S., Sutton, J.C., Tam, L., Boland, G., Broadbent, B., Thompson, S.V.,
Brewer, G.J. (2003). Using pollinators to deliver biological control agents against crop pests. In: Downer
R.A., Mueninghoff, J.C., Volgas, G.C. Pesticide Formulations and Delivery Systems. Meeting the
Challenges of the Current Crop Protection Industry. American Society Testing and Materials, West
Conshohocken, pp. 148–153.
6. Mommaerts, V., Put, K., Smagghe, G. (2011). Bombus terrestris as pollinator-and-vector to suppress
Botrytis cinerea in greenhouse strawberry. Pest Managament Science, No. 67, pp. 1069–1075.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
28
EARTHWORM DENSITY IN SPRING OILSEED RAPE CROP
IN ORGANIC FARMING SYSTEM
Rita Mockevičienė, Aušra Marcinkevičienė, Rita Pupalienė, Rimantas Velička,
Zita Kriaučiūnienė, Lina Marija Butkevičienė
Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuania
Earthworms play an important role in soil fertility and crop productivity
(Brown et al., 2004). The number of earthworms depends on many environmental and
agrotechnical factors, including use of different weed control methods. Smothering is the most
common method of weed control in oilseed rape crops in organic farms. However, weed
smothering ability of oilseed rape is low during rosette stage. Mechanical weed control is practiced
in organic farms and can significantly reduce weed density (Praczyk, 2005). Thermal weed control
method with water steam can be used in organic farms as well (Sirvydas et al., 2009). It is
nessecarry to investigate the effectiveness of plant bio-activators in organically grown crops. The
objective of this study is to assess the impact of different weed control methods and bio-activators
on earthworm density in spring oilseed rape crop in an organic farming system.
The field experiment was carried-out at the Experimental Station of Aleksandras Stulginskis
University in 2013 and 2014. The soil of experimental field was Calc(ar)i-Endohypogleyic Luvisol.
Experimental treatments: factor A – non-chemical weed control methods: 1) TWC – thermal (water
steam), 2) MWC – mechanical (inter-row loosening), 3) SMT – smothering (self-regulation); factor
B – plant bio-activators: 1) no application and 2) with application. TWC and MWC were applied in
oilseed rape crop cultivated at a wide row spacing of 48 cm. Oilseed rape was cultivated at an inter-
row spacing of 12.0 cm in plots where smothering was used for weed control.
The highest earthworm number in the soil was estimated in plots where the weed control
method smoothering was applied with and without bio-activators (Fig.). Thermal weed control in
plots with bio-activators significantly (p ≤ 0.01) decreased earthworm number compared with the
weed control method smoothering in plots with bioactivators in 2013 and 2014. The earthworm
number and mass in the soil depended on the meteorological conditions during vegetation period,
especially on humidity. Significantly lower earthworm density in 2014 compared with 2013 was
determined by the lack of soil moisture. The significantly higher mass of earthworms was
established in plots with plant bio-activators.
Fig. Earthworm number in the soil in plots with different weed control methods and with or
without application of plant bio-activators. Means not sharing a common letter (a, b, c) are
significantly different (p < 0.05).
References
1. Brown, G.G., Edwards, C.A., Brussaard, L. (2004). How earthworms affect plant growth: burrowing into
mechanisms. In: Edwards C.A. (ed.) Earthworm Ecology, 2nd ed. CRC, Boca Raton, pp. 13–49.
2. Praczyk, T. (2005). Zwalczanie chwastów. Rozdziałw: Technologia produkcji rzepaku. Wydawnictwo
Wieś Jutra, Warszawa, pp. 97–107.
3. Sirvydas, P.A., Čekanauskas, S., Kerpauskas, P., Nadzeikienė, J, Stepanas, A., Čingienė, R. (2009). The
investigations of water steam condensation on the surface of the soil. Agricultural Engineering, 41(1–2),
pp. 7–18.
170.0
a
27
.5b
12
1.0
b
21
.0b
148
.0a
21
.b8
133
.0ab
31
.0ab
17
3.0
a
43
.0a
192
.0a
42.5
a
0
50
100
150
200
250
2013 2014 2013 2014
No application With application
Nu
mb
eru
nit
s m
-2
Termal Mechanical Smothering
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
29
EFFECT OF MEDIUM COMPOSITION ON MISCANTHUS × GIGANTEUS
REGENERATION COMPETENCE
Inga Jančauskienė, Aušra Blinstrubienė
Institute of Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuania
Miscanthus × giganteus is a potential dedicated bioenergy crop due to its high biomass yield
(Heaton et al., 2004), conversion of solar radiation to biomass (Beale et al., 1996). Miscanthus ×
giganteus is a sterile triploid which naturally reproduced vegetatively from rootstocks. Cultivated
Miscantus can be propagated using either macro- or micropropagation methods. Macropropagation
process is time consuming and insufficient to supply the increasing demand for the current
commercial development (Rambaud et al., 2013). In micropropagation, the plantlets are
regenerated through tissue culture and then established in the field. Increasing requirement for
Miscanthus × giganteus cultivation around the world demand improvement of current
micropropagation techniques with the aim to reduce cost of multiplication and increase availability
(Kim et al., 2010). The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of medium
composition on direct regeneration of Miscanthus × giganteus.
Investigation was carried out during 2014–2015 at the JRC Agrobiotechnology Laboratory,
Aleksandras Stulginskis University. Miscanthus × gigantheus Greef et Deuter. rhizomes sterilized
and cultivated on Murashige and Skoog (1962) nutrient medium supplemented with different
growth regulators concentrations, 10 g L-1
sucrose and 8 g L-1
Difco-Bacto agar. Explants were
cultivated in a growth chamber at 25/20 ºC (day/night), under illumination 50 µmol m-2
s-1
,
photoperiod 16/8 h (day/night). Every four weeks, explants were transferred to the fresh medium.
The shoot formation frequency (%) and number of shoots per explant (units) were evaluated.
Differences between the treatments for parameters were аnаlyzed using the software STАT
(Tаrаkаnovаs, Rаudonius, 2003). Mean value and standard error (SE) for each treatment were
calculated based on the number of independent replication.
Medium composition is one of the most important factors influencing organogenesis from
somatic tissues. Combination of 2.4 D and BA was effective to improve plant regeneration in
Kim et al. (2010) studies, while Raumbaud et al. (2013) for shoot induction used medium,
supplemented with BAP. Our results showed that shoot formation frequency was significantly
affected by medium composition. Dependently from growth regulators, concentration in the culture
medium shoot formation frequency varied from 10.8 to 18.1%. The significantly highest shoot
formation frequency was obtained on the medium supplemented with 0.1 mg L-1
TDZ + 3.0 mg L-1
NAA. The same medium composition resulted in the highest shoot number per explant. Developed
regeneration procedure can be employed in micropropagation and in strategies for further genetic
enhancement and improvement of commercial Miscanthus × gigantheus cultivars.
References
1. Beale, C.V., Bint, D.A., Long, S.P. (1996). Leaf photosynthesis in the C4 grass Miscanhtus × giganteus,
growing in the cool temperature climate of southern England. Journal of Experimental Botany, No. 47,
pp. 267–273.
2. Heaton, E.A., Long, S.P., Voigt, T.B., Jones, M.B., Clifton–Brown, J. (2004). Miscanthus for renewable
energy generation: European Union experience and projections for Illinois. Mitigation and Adaptation
Strategies for Global Change, No. 9, pp. 433–451.
3. Kim, H.S., Zhang, G., Juvik, J.A., Widholm, J.M. (2010). Miscanthus × giganteus plant regeneration:
effect of callus types, ages and culture methods on regeneration competence. GCB Bioenergy, No. 2, pp.
192–200.
4. Murashige, T., Skoog, F. (1962). A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue
cultures. Physiologia Plantarum, No. 15, pp. 473–497.
5. Rambaud, C., Arnoult, S., Bluteau, A., Mansard, M.C., Blassiau, C., Brancourt–Hulmel, M. (2013). Shoot
organogenesis in three Mischantus species and evaluation for genetic uniformity using AFLP analysis.
Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, No. 113, pp. 437–448.Tarakanovas, P., Raudonius, S. (2003).
Agronominių tyrimų duomenų statistinė analizė, taikant kompiuterines programas ANOVA, STAT,
SPLIT-PLOT iš paketo SELEKCIJA. Akademija, 56 p. (in Lithuanian).
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
30
THE EFFECT OF POTASSIUM BICARBONATE ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PARAMETERS OF SETARIA VIRIDIS UNDER DROUGHT STRESS
Rimanta Vainorienė, Natalija Burbulis, Aušra Blinstrubienė, Vaida Jonytienė
Institute of Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuania
Drought stress has a serious effect on plant growth and development in many regions of the
world. Water deficit is one of the most important environmental factors inhibiting photosynthesis
due to an imbalance between light capture and its utilization (Reddy et al., 2004). The ability of
plants to acclimate to different stress is directly or indirectly associated with their ability to
acclimate at the level of photosynthesis, which affects biochemical and physiological processes and
consequently, the growth and development of the whole plant. The aim of this study was to
evaluate the effect of potassium bicarbonate on photosynthesis of Setaria viridis under drought
stress.
The study was carried out at the JRC Agrobiotechnology Laboratory, Aleksandras
Stulginskis University. Setaria viridis growing in a growth chamber at 25/20ºC (day/night), under
illumination 50 µmol m-2
s-1
, photoperiod 16/8 h (day/night). Drought treatment was started four
weeks after germination, when 3 leaves were fully expanded. Potassium bicarbonate was applied
by spraying to leaves at concentration 10, 20 and 30 mg l-1
. The chlorophyll fluorescence
parameters were measured with a fluorometer IMAGING-PAM (Heinz Walz GmbH, Germany).
Differences between the treatments for parameters were analyzed using the software STAT
(Tarakanovas, Raudonius, 2003). Mean value and standard error (SE) for each treatment were
calculated based on the number of independent replication.
The photosynthesis process is impaired by drought stress due to both stomatal and non-
stomatal circumscription, which resulted in decreasing of photosynthetic activity (Zlatev,
Yordanov, 2004). In the present study, the drought treatment caused a significant decrease in
maximum quantum yield, as well as in effective quantum yield of photosystem II in Setaria viridis.
Statistically significant increase in mentioned parameters under drought stress in comparison with
the control was obtained in potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3) treated plants. Under low water
content photosynthesis process is inhibited, because the radiant energy absorbed by the plant can
transcend the level that photosynthesis is able to dissipate in a usual way. This results in overstock
excitation energy with presumptive photoinhibitory effects (Biehler, Fock, 1996). One of the
primary mechanisms applied to plants to forbid or reduce damage to the photosynthetic apparatus is
non-photochemical chlorophylls fluorescence quenching (NPQ) (Ruban, Horton, 1995). In this way
overstock radiant energy is dissipated as heat in the light–harvesting antenna of photosystem II. de
Souza et al. (2013) reported that maize genotypes protect their photosystems under drought stress
by an increase of non–photochemical chlorophylls fluorescence quenching. The increases in non–
photochemical chlorophylls fluorescence quenching under potassium bicarbonate, obtained in our
study, indicated protective role of potassium bicarbonate on the photosynthetic system II in Setaria
viridis under drought stress.
References
1. Biehler, K., Fock, H. (1996). Evidence for the contribution of the Mehler-peroxidase reaction in
dissipating excess electrons in drought-stressed wheat. Plant Physiology, No. 112, pp. 265–272.
2. Reddy, A.R., Chaitanya, K.V., Vivekanandan, M. (2004). Drought–induced responses of photosynthesis
and antioxidant metabolism in higher plants. Journal of Plant Physiology, No. 161, pp. 1189–1202.
3. Ruban, A.V., Horton, P. (1995). Regulation on non–photochemical quenching of chlorophyll
fluorescence in plants. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology, No. 22, pp. 221–230.
4. Souza de, T.C., Magalhaes, P.C., de Castro, E.M., de Albuquerque, P.E.P., Marabesi, M.A. (2013). The
influence of ABA on water relation, photosynthesis parameters, and chlorophyll fluorescence under
drought conditions in two maize hybrids with contrasting drought resistance. Acta Physiologiae
Plantarum, No. 35, pp. 515–527.
5. Tarakanovas, P., Raudonius, S. (2003). Agronominių tyrimų duomenų statistinė analizė, taikant
kompiuterines programas ANOVA, STAT, SPLIT-PLOT iš paketo SELEKCIJA. Akademija, 56 p.
(in Lithuanian).
6. Zlatev, Z., Yordanov, I. (2004). Effect of soil drought on photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence in
common bean plants. Bulgarian Journal of Plant Physiology, No. 30, pp. 3–18.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
31
RESEARCH ON THE GROWING OF PERENNIAL GRASS FOR ENERGY
Eugenija Bakšiene, Jelena Titova
Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Vokė Branch, Lithuania
Currently a strong interest in renewable energy is a world-wide tendency. Energy plants are
herbaceous plants and short rotation energy forests that are grown for their biomass to be used for
biofuels, electricity and thermal energy production (Lithuanian Biomass Energy Association
LITBIOMA, 2008). Sewage sludge disposal is an urgent issue at the moment. Improperly handled
or neglected sewage sludge poses a threat to the environment and human health. One of the ways to
dispose it, simultaneously obtaining economic benefits, is composting and using it for fertilization
of energy plants (Borkowska, Wardzinska, 2003; Quaye, Volk, 2013).
The trial was performed at the Vokė Branch of the Lithuanian Research Centre for
Agriculture and Forestry (LAMMC) in sandy loam Haplic Luvisols during 2012–2015. Bioenergy
herbaceous plants were planted from seedlings in the spring of 2012. Mugwort (Artemisia dubia
Wall.) – four individuals per square meter, Virginia fanpetals (Sida hermaphrodita (L.) Rusby) and
giant miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus) – two individuals per square meter. Fertilization rates:
control (no fertilizer), N90P60K90 (90 kg ha-1
N, 60 kg ha-1
P2O5, 90 kg ha-1
K2O), 20, 40 and 80 t ha-
1 sewage sludge compost (SSC) dry matter (DM). Mineral fertilizers were applied every year, and
sewage sludge was used once, in 2012, for 3 years.
Tasks: to investigate the influence of fertilization with sewage sludge compost on the growth
and biomass formation of perennial grass and to determine the parameters of biomass quality of
perennial grass fertilized with sewage sludge compost, regarding the use of biomass for solid
biofuel.
On the third year of trial biomass DM yield of giant miscanthus was the highest among the
tested herbaceous plants (14.9 t ha-1
). The mugwort produced 11.1 t ha-1
biomass DM yield, while
Virginia fanpetals – 4.0 t ha-1
. But the total three-year yield of mugwort was the highest (p<0.05).
Fertilization with 20 and 80 t ha-1
of SSC significantly increased the mugwort biomass DM
yield only on the third year (from 4.9 to 7.0 and 6.8 t ha-1
respectively). Fertilization with SSC had
no effect on biomass DM yields of Virginia fanpetals and giant miscanthus.
The biomass of giant miscanthus was the most suitable for solid biofuel as it was
characterized by significantly lower ash (1.96 – 3.01%), sulfur (0.082 – 0.098%) and total nitrogen
(0.24 – 0.41%) contents.
However, calorific value of these plants was only 18.4 – 18.7 MJ kg-1
, i.e. significantly lower
than of Virginia fanpetals (18.5 – 19.0 MJ kg-1
) and mugwort (19.3 – 19.5 MJ kg-1
). Mugwort
biomass had the highest calorific value, but it contained a lot of S (0.096 – 0.117%) and Nsum.
(0.30 – 0.57%). Besides, its ash content was more than 1.5 times higher than that of other
herbaceous plants (4.35 –5.21%).
Application of SSC did not significantly change the calorific value of plant biomass.
However, application of 20 and 40 t ha-1
of compost reduced the ash content in giant miscanthus
and Virginia fanpetals biomass, S content in Virginia fanpetals biomass and Nsum. concentration in
giant miscanthus biomass (p < 0.05).
References
1. Borkowska, H., Wardzinska, K. (2003). Some effects of Sida hermaphrodita R. cultivation on sewage
sludge. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, Vol. 12, No 1, pp. 119–122.
2. Lithuanian Biomass Energy Association LITBIOMA (2008). Action plan of promoting the use of
Lithuanian renewable energy resources 2010 – 2020. Applied research. Final Report. 215 p.
3. Quaye, A.K., Volk, T.A. (2013). Biomass production and soil nutrients in organic and inorganic fertilized
willow biomass production systems. Biomass and Bioenergy. No 57, pp. 113–125.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
32
LIVING MULCH AND WEED COMPETITIVENESS IN MAIZE CROP
Aida Adamavičienė, Kęstutis Romaneckas, Edita Eimutytė, Rasa Kimbirauskienė
Aleksandras Stulginskis university, Agronomy Faculty,
Institute of Agroecosystems and Soil Sciences, Lithuania
Reduction of weed infestation in agricultural crops has been one of the major concerns
recently. Numerous research and observations have been conducted aiming to establish weed
spread methods and reasons and weed-crop competition peculiarities. Enhancement of the
competitive ability of agricultural crops is one of the principal tools to increase the productivity of
agricultural crops.
Research was conducted during 2009–2011 at the Lithuanian University of Agriculture
(since 2011 Aleksandras Stulginskis University), Experimental Station. The soil of the
experimental field was Calc(ar)i-Epihypogleyic Luvisol LVg-p-w-cc (WRB, 2014) with a texture of
silty light loam on heavy loam. The soil pH KCl measured 7.1, available phosphorus 134.83 mg kg-
1, available potassium 74.66 mg kg
-1. The soil in this territory has formed on a bottom moraine or
bottom glacial formations, covered by glacial lacustrine sedimentary rock and is a continuation of
the Lithuanian Middle Plain. The layer of the sedimentary rock is of different thickness.
A one-factor, stationary field experiment was conducted. Different living mulches inter-
seeded in maize inter-rows were tested:
1. Without a living mulch (control – reference treatment);
2. Spring rape (Brassica napus L.);
3. White mustard (Sinapis alba L.);
4. Spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.);
5. Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.);
6. Black medic (Medicago lupulina L.);
7. Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L.);
8. Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.).
In all experimental years, the same living mulches were inter-seeded in the inter-rows of
maize monocrop. The plots of the control treatment were weeded out twice. The experiment was
replicated four times. The plots were laid out in a randomised design. The total area of an
experimental plot was 24 m2, and the area of a record plot was 20 m
2. In 2009, black fallow
preceded maize and in 2010 – 2011 maize was monocropped. Living mulches did not have any
significant influence on the stability of soil structural aggregates. The greatest content of moisture
was used by the living mulches producing abundant re-growth after each mulching. In many cases,
living mulches significantly reduced shear resistance of soil in the middle of summer, when they
had covered maize inter-rows. Soil penetration resistance tended to decrease, albeit insignificantly,
in the treatments where Fabaceae living mulches were grown in maize inter-rows. Living mulches
in maize inter-rows increased pH in both layers of the ploughlayer. The growing of living mulches
also utilised quite large amounts of P2O5 and K2O, therefore the greatest contents of these elements
accumulated in weeded out plots without living mulches. Most of the living mulches tested
increased soil Corg content; however, no significant differences were established. Higher soil N
content was established when growing spring rape (0.22%), white mustard (0.19%), Persian clover
(0.21%) and red clover (0.20 %) in maize inter-rows.
Cultivation of living mulches in maize inter-rows exerted a positive effect on soil enzyme
activity: urease activity was increased by spring barley, black medic, Persian and red clover living
mulches (0.0003–0.0037 mg NH3 1 g soil per 24 h), while saccharase activity was increased by all
living mulches cultivated (4.19–17.66 mg glucose 1 g soil per 48 h). The changes in soil enzyme
activity were most markedly influenced by the difference between Ntotal and Corg contents in the
soil.
Non-regrowing living mulches (white mustard, spring barley and rape) competed with weeds
at early development stages when maize competitive ability was poor. Living mulches whose
vegetation was longer exhibited better weed suppressive ability and produced more biomass;
however, they competed more for nutrients with maize. The correlation regression analysis of the
experimental data indicated that at more advanced growth stages of maize, the number and mass of
weeds mostly depended on the biomass of living mulches. Living mulches reduced weed seed bank
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
33
in the ploughlayer by 14.1 to 57.1%. The greatest change was established when growing Persian
clover (57.1%) and black medic (53.6%). Most of the Poaceae and Brassicaceae living mulches
competed more with weeds for space at the beginning of maize vegetation, while Fabaceae plants
and Italian ryegrass – already after the first mulching of the inter-rows. In most cases, a strong
correlation was determined between the surface area covered by weeds and living mulches.
In the first experimental year, while competing with maize, living mulches generally had a
significant negative effect on maize biometric and productivity indicators; however, in the final
year of the experiment the positive effect of the living mulches was revealed, since with increased
nutrient content in the plough layer the competition between the living mulches and maize
decreased. In all experimental years, it was established that with increasing total dry mass of the
living mulches, the height of maize plants decreased, and the height of maize canopy had the most
marked impact on maize productivity.
Cultivation of living mulches in maize inter-rows resulted in an increase in maize grain
protein content. The greatest grain protein increase resulted from white mustard (8.84%) and
Persian clover (8.57%) living mulches.
Reference
IUSS Working Group WRB (2014). World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2014. International classification
system for naming soil and creating legends for soil maps. Access through internet: http://www.fao.org/3/a-
i3794e.pdf.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
34
INFORMATION AND SOME RESULTS ON WEED MONITORING
IN THE REGIONS OF LATVIA
Dainis Lapiņš1, Zane Mintāle
2, Dace Piliksere
3, Solveiga Maļecka
3 Jevgenija Ņečajeva
2
1Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia;
2Latvian Plant Protection Research Centre, Latvia;
3Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Latvia
The aim of the investigations was to work out science-based recommendations for weed
management that are necessary to implement the Integrated Pest Management principles. Research
in Latvia has been conducted since 2013, and the field data were collected from the time period
from 2011 to 2015. For weed monitoring six stationary arable fields at 50 farms, which differed in
size and specialization, were selected in four regions of Latvia. Weeds were monitored by
occurrence method (Rasiņš, Tauriņa, 1982) in total in 886 fields from 2013 to 2015.
The aim of this abstract was to inform about the investigations that explain the impact of
selected crop, crop sequence, proportion of cereals in crop sequence, soil management system and
weed management system on weed species occurrence, the number of weed plants in the crop field,
and biological diversity assessed by Menhinick's index.
In arable fields of Latvia, 150 different weed taxa, at species or genus level, were registered
during a three-year period. Most common weed taxa were Viola spp., Equisetum arvense L.,
Fallopia convolvulus (L.) Á.Löve, Lamium spp., Galium aparine L., Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski,
Veronica spp. Regional conditions (climate, soils, topography) and years (firstly, weather
conditions), as well as interaction of both factors had a significant (p<0.05) impact (2A, %) on the
number of weed plants, number of weed species, and Menhinick's index of biological diversity.
The differences in above-mentioned weed community were significantly (p<0.05) influenced also
by increasing proportion of cereals in crop sequence, up to 80–100%.
Selection of main soil management measure: a) tillage; b) shallow tillage before sowing; c)
reduced soil tillage with sowing, had a significant (p<0.05) impact (2 A, %) on the number of
weed plants, number of weed species, and Menhinick's index of biological diversity. A significant
interaction was detected only with regional conditions, in the authors’ opinion, firstly, with
differences in soil properties.
An increase in cereal proportion in crop sequence favoured an occurrence of some important
volunteer crops, as well as some invasive weed species, including Avena fatua L. However, if the
number of this weed species among different field crops was compared, the number of Avena fatua
plants, on average 4 plants m-2
, was detected in the fields of spring oilseed rape and that was
significantly more than in the areas of winter and spring wheat. These results suggest that Avena
fatua is an important weed not only in cereal fields, but it is a serious threat and has to be
controlled in all arable crops. A specific indicator species, that characterizes the professionalism of
field management, is Elytrigia repens, – species, which is well studied (much is known about its
agrobiological characteristics) and a number of herbicides has been available for its control. An
average number of 9 plants m-2
and maximum number of 114 plants m-2
of Elytrigia repens per
field indicate a poor level of professionalism. A specific indicator species for acid soils, Rumex
acetosella L., was detected in 4.7% of total number of investigated fields, but an indicator species
for unmanaged soil moisture regime conditions, Equisetum arvense L., in 76.4% of investigated
crop fields. The research regarding weed monitoring in regions of Latvia will be continued further.
Key words: weeds, weed occurrence, weed management, Integrated Pest Management.
References
Rasiņš, A., Tauriņa, M. (1982). Nezāļu kvantitātes uzskaites metodika Latvijas PSR apstākļos. LM ZTIP,
Rīga, 24 lpp. (In Latvian)
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
35
12
2
16
0
62
126
113
40
88
17
1
38
74 8
9*
30
83
15
4
32
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2010 2011 2012
Un
its
m-2
Without mulching Straw Peat Sawdust Grass
12
2
16
0
62
126
113
40
88
17
1
38
74 8
9*
30
83
15
4
32
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2010 2011 2012
Un
its
m-2
Without mulching Straw Peat Sawdust Grass
19 24
63 7
5
32
9
17
6
21
49
98
91
24
1
48
*
3* 1
7* 31
73
12
2*
55*
18 3
6
36
34
*
95
**
40
**
12
*
14
*
18*
17*
97**
36
**
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Un
its
m-2
Without mulching Straw Peat Sawdust Grass
THE EFFECT OF MULCHES ON ELYTRIGIA REPENS SPREADING IN ORGANIC
FARMING SYSTEM
Rita Pupalienė, Darija Jodaugienė, Aušra Sinkevičienė, Kristina Bajorienė
Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuania
Elytrigia repens is most common weed in Lithuania, and control of this perrenial weed in
organic farming system is quite difficult. There is a lack of experimental data on possibilities to use
organic mulches for Elytrigia repens control. The object of our study was to estimate the influence
and the residual effect of different organic mulches on E. repens density.
The stationary field experiment was carried out at the Experimental Station of the
Aleksandras Stulginskis University. The influence of organic mulches on weed density was
evaluated in 2004–2009, the residual effect of the mulches in 2010–2012. Treatments of the
experiment: 1) without mulch; 2) straw mulch (chopped wheat straw); 3) peat mulch (medium
decomposed fen peat); 4) sawdust mulch (from various tree species); 5) grass mulch (regularly cut
from grass-plots).
Grass mulch significantly decreased density of E. repens during the whole experiment
period. Peat mulch significantly decreased density of E. repens except 2006–2007. The influence of
straw mulch was unequal: the tendency of higher number of E. repens during the first four years of
experiment, the tendency of lower number in 2008 and significantly lower number in 2009. The
significant influence of all examined organic mulches on E. repens density was investigated in
2009, after the six year from the beginning of experiment.
The mulches affect the re-growth of E. repens at first as a physical barier. After completion
of mulching, E. repens spreading in experimental plots was unequal. The effect of sawdust mulch
on soil agrochemical properties and its allelophatic effect could determine the lower number of
E. repens in 2010–2012.
References
1. Bajorienė, K. (2013). Residual effect of organic mulches on agrocenoses: Summary of doctoral
dissertation. Akademija, 24 p. 2. Nedzinskiene, T.L., Asakavičiūte R., Razukas, A. (2008). The dynamics of Elytrigia repens in different
field crops in Lithuania. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, Special Issue XXI, pp. 223–227.
Fig. 1. The influence of organic mulches
on Elytrigia repens density, 2004–2009.
* – 95% probability level, ** – 99%.
probability level
Fig. 2. Residual effect of organic
mulches on Elytrigia repens density,
2010–2012. * – 95% probability level.
.probability level
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
36
THE ALLELOPATHIC EFFECT OF OILSEED RAPE (BRASSICA NAPUS)
Zita Kriauciuniene, Rita Сepuliene, Rimantas Velicka, Ausra Marcinkeviciene,
Rita Pupaliene, Robertas Kosteckas, Sigitas Cekanauskas
Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuania
[email protected], [email protected]
Like other plants of the Brassicaceae family, oilseed rape synthesizes allelochemical
materials which are released into the air through leaves and roots and penetrate into the soil during
the decomposition of rape residues (Velička et al., 2012). The allelochemical compounds affect
physiological processes in plants: some plants are stimulated, while others are inhibited (Inderjit et
al., 2006; Fuji et al., 2012). The study was carried out at Aleksandras Stulginskis University, and it
was aimed to identify the dynamics of accumulation of allelochemicals in oilseed rape as well as
the effect of aqueous extracts of different morphological parts of oilseed rape after harvest and
different periods of decomposition in the soil on agricultural plants and weeds.
The research revealed the patterns and showed that inhibitory or stimulatory effect of
morphological parts of rape residues on agricultural plants and weeds differs and depends on the
concentration of residues aqueous extracts and duration of decomposition in the soil. In abstract,
part of findings are presented: it was estimated that aqueous extracts of winter and spring oilseed
rape different morphological parts residues after harvest at 1:10 concentration significantly
(p ≤ 0.05) inhibited germination of Hordeum vulgare (HORVX), Galium apparine (GALAP),
Sinapis arvensis (SINAR) and Sonhus arvensis (SONAR) (Fig.). The effect on Triticum aestivum
(TRAE) and Tripleurospermum perforatum (MATIN) germination was lower and in most cases
insignificant.
Fig. Amount of germinated seeds of agricultural plants and weeds in the aqueous extract
(1:10 concentration) of oilseed rape residues after harvesting
Note: Mean values not sharing the same letter (a, b) and mean values with the asterisk (compared
with distilled water) are significantly different (p ≤ 0.05). Plant codes according to Bayer.
References
1. Fujii, Y., Kamo, T., Hiradate, S., Shindo, M., Shishido, K. (2012). Isolation and identification of novel
allelochemicals and utilzation of alleloapthic cover plants for sustainable agriculture. Pakistan Journal of
Weed Science Research, No. 18, pp. 181–186.
2. Inderjit, Mukerji, K.G. (2006). Allelochemicals: Biological Control of Plant Pathogens and Diseases.
Series: Disease Management of Fruits and Vegetables, Vol. 2. Springer, 213 p.
3. Velička, R., Marcinkevičienė, A., Pupalienė, R., Čepulienė, R., Kriaučiūnienė, Z., Kosteckas,
R.Čekanauskas, S., Bieliauskaitė, R. (2012). Allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts of rape residues on
winter wheat seed germination and early growth. Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment, Vol. 10,
No. 3&4, pp. 1053–1057.
81.3
a46.0
b* 56.7
b*
90.0
83.3
a87.3
a
78.7
a
56.7
a*55.3
a*57.3
a*82.0
62.0
a*54.6
a* 65.3
a*
19.3
c*
15.3
c*36.7
ab*
60.0
34.7
ab*
32.0
b* 4
4.0
a*
2.0
b* 10.0
a*0.0
b*
20.0
2.0
b*
0.0
b*
1.3
b*
21.3
c*44.7
ab
47.3
a
46.7
41.3
ab
37.3
ab34.7
b
7.3
a6.7
a*4.0
a*14.7
6.7
a*3.3
a*
3.3
a*
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Am
ou
nt
of
ger
min
ated
see
ds
%
TRAE HORVX GALAP SINAR TRAE SONAR
WRTR - Winter rape threshing remains WRS - Winter rape stubble WRR - Winter rape roots
SRTR - Spring rape threshing remians SRS - Spring rape stubble SRR - Spring rape roots DW - Distilled water
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
37
THE EFFECT OF MANURE AND NITROGEN FERTILIZER ON THE SOIL
AGGREGATE STABILITY
Mihkel Are, Tiin Teesalu, Tanel Kaart, Are Selge, Endla Reintam
Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia
It has been widely known that fertilization affects the soil structure and different kinds of
fertilizers have a different effect. A stable structure ensures a better plant growth environment and
provides a better absorption of nutrients from the soil. Nowadays the condition of soil is almost
exclusively evaluated by chemical parameters and less attention is paid for soil physical
parameters.
The study was carried out in Estonia, near Tartu on the long term IOSDV (Internationale
Organische Stickstoffdauerdüngungsversuch) experimental field. The soil, based on WRB
classification, was an Albic Stagnic Retisol (Loamic) and had a sandy loam texture. In the current
study, the period of 2014 – 2015 was under investigation. The used cultivars: barley ‘Anni’ and
potato ’Manitou‘, both were breaded in the Estonian Crop Research Institute. Ammonium nitrate
(AN) with different quantities (0, 40, 80, 120, 160 kg ha-1
N) was used as a mineral fertilizer and
composted farmyard manure (FYM) (40 Mg ha-1
) as an organic fertilizer. For undisturbed control,
soil from grassland nearby was used. Soil wet aggregate stability (SWAS) from 0 – 2 mm air dried
soil samples were analyzed with Eijkelkamp's wet sieving apparatus, by using 0.25 mm sieves.
The results (Fig. 1) revealed the negative effect of AN use as SWAS decreased. In most
cases adding FYM increased the SWAS due to the supplementary organic matter. In perspective
from the cultivars SWAS variability between the two years was significant. Other researchers have
also confirmed that there is a large seasonal variability of aggregate stability (Cosentino et al.,
2006). As in 2015 potato shared the same plots as barley in 2014, it can be concluded that there is
an individual "field effect" for every field, most likely caused by different texture and saltiness.
Fig. 1. The percentage value of wet stable aggregate stability on (A) barley and (B) potato
in 2014 year and (C) barley and (D) potato in 2015 year. The fertilization, with just ammonium
nitrate (AN) and ammonium nitrate with farmyard manure (AN+FYM). The vertical lines show
standard error.
References:
Cosentino, D., Chenu, C., Bissonnais, L.Y. (2006). Aggregate stability and microbial community dynamics
under drying–wetting cycles in a silt loam soil. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 38, pp. 2053–2062.
42%
47%
52%
57%
62%
67%
72%
N0
N4
0
N8
0
N1
20
N1
60
Co
ntr
ol
Barley, 2014
A
42%
47%
52%
57%
62%
67%
72%
N0
N4
0
N8
0
N1
20
N1
60
Co
ntr
ol
Potato, 2014 AN
AN+FYM
B
42%
47%
52%
57%
62%
67%
72%
N0
N4
0
N8
0
N1
20
N1
60
Co
ntr
ol
Barley, 2015
C
42%
47%
52%
57%
62%
67%
72%
N0
N4
0
N8
0
N1
20
N1
60
Co
ntr
ol
Potato, 2015
D
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
38
THE INFLUENCE OF WOOD ASH ON THE YIELD OF BARLEY, SPRING WHEAT
AND SPRING OILSEED RAPE
Henn Raave
Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
Department of Field Crop and Grassland Husbandry, Estonia;
During heat production, wood-fueled boiler houses produce large amounts of wood ash,
which today is being mainly disposed in landfills. Wood ash is rich in essential plant nutrients and
therefore could be suitable for use instead of mineral fertilizer. The aim of the present study was to
compare the effect of wood ash on the yield of barley, spring wheat and spring oilseed rape with
mineral fertilizer.
Field experiment was conducted at the Rõhu Experiment station of Estonian University of
Life Sciences in 2011 – 2014 on Stagnic Luvisol with sandy loam texture, with PMehlich 3 and KMehlich
3 content 89 and 146 mg kg-1
respectively and pH KCl 5.4 at the beginning of the experiment.
Treatments (in four replication at randomized block design) were: (i) mineral fertilizer
(N80P25K100), (ii) wood and peat ash (fuel ratio at combustion 90 and 10%), (iii) control.
Application rates of ash were 5, 7.5 and 10 t ha-1
. Ash was spread manually and incorporated into
the soil at 10 cm of depth in the spring of the first experimental year by using a rotor cultivator.
Mineral N fertilizer (80 kg ha-1
N) was applied to the ash plots each spring. In mineral fertilizer
treatment NPK fertilizer was applied in each year. Crops grown in the experiment were barley,
spring oilseed rape, spring wheat and barley in I, II, III and IV year respectively.
Yield was the highest in mineral fertilizer treatment in three years out of four (Table). As an
exception in the second year the yield was the highest in treatment with ash applied at the rate of
7.5 t ha-1
. In the last two years, the grain yield in mineral fertilizer treatment was already 0.7–
1.1 t ha-1
higher if compared to treatments with ash. Wood ash is efficient at acidic soils
(Arshad et al., 2012) and soils with low nutrient content (Füzesi et al., 2015). Present research
showed that despite acidic soil the application of ash resulted in similar yield as with mineral
fertilizer only in the first two years. Although there was no significant correlation between the ash
application amount and crop yield, the yields were still higher in treatments with ash application
rates of 7.5 and 10.0 t ha-1
.
Table
Crop yields (t ha-1
) in different treatments
Treatment
Experimental year/crop
Average yield I II III VI
Barley,
‘Teele’
Spring oilseed
rape, ‘Larissa’
Spring wheat,
‘Specific’
Barley,
‘Anni’
Control 2.2a 2.3
a 4.2
a 2.8
a 2.9
a
Mineral fertilizer 3.0c 3.2
ab 6.4
b 6.0
b 4.7
b
N80 + ash 5.0 t ha-1
2.3ab
2.9ab
5.3ab
5.3ab
4.0ab
N80 + ash 7.5 t ha-1
2.4ab
3.4b 5.4
b 5.3
ab 4.1
ab
N80 + ash 10.0 t ha-1
2.8bc
2.9ab
5.3ab
5.3ab
4.1ab
The effect of wood ash on crop yield is similar or slightly lower than with mineral fertilizer.
References
1. Arshad, M.A., Soon, Y.K., Azooz, R.H., Lupwayi, N.Z., Chang S.X. (2012). Soil and Crop Response to
Wood Ash and Lime Application in Acidic Soils. Agronomy Journal, 104(3), pp. 715–721.
2. Füzesi, I., Heil, B., Kovach, G. (2015). Effects of Wood Ash on the Chemical Properties of Soil and Crop
Vitality in Small Plot Experiments. Acta Silv. Lign. Hung., 11(1), pp. 55–64.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
39
DIRECT AND RESIDUAL EFFECT OF ORGANIC WASTE COMPOST
ON THE CROP PRODUCTIVITY
Avo Toomsoo1, Triin Teesalu
1, Henry Kaevu
1, Mait Kriipsalu
2, Helis Rossner
1 Alar Astover
1
1Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,
2Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering,
Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia
Sustainable use of fertilizers is important for maintaining balanced nutrient cycling in agro-
ecosystem, soil quality and crop productivity. Considering the high costs and energy demand of
mineral fertilizers, it is increasingly important to use more alternative nutrient sources such as
composts. Compost use is likely to enhance soil quality and crop yields as indicated in several
studies (Arthur et al., 2010; D’Hose et al., 2012). Nutrient release from organic fertilizers is slower
compared to mineral fertilizers and thus their effects need to be evaluated over longer time periods.
Effect of fertilizer use on the crop yield is widely studied, but relatively less information has been
presented on the residual effects of fertilizers, especially in Nordic climatic conditions (Riley,
2016). Residual effect of organic fertilizers is in most cases studied with animal manures
(Mallory et al., 2010; Petersen et al., 2010; Cela et al., 2011; Riley, 2016), but even more scarce are
studies with non-manure based composts. The largest waste composting facility in Estonia is
Tallinn Waste Recycling Centre (max 15 000 t year-1
). Although compost is produced, the
utilization of it is unsolved. The reputation of waste compost has been low, as there is no long
historic experience using waste composts in Estonia. The aim of current study was to evaluate first
year direct effect and residual effect of waste compost on the crop productivity.
Crop rotation field experiment to reveal direct effect of compost to the spring barley yield
and residual effect to potato and spring wheat yield was conducted in Tartu, Estonia on
pseodopodzolic soil with low humus concentration (< 2%). Compost was produced from source
separated food and green waste, and category III animal by-products; and composted in aerated
covered static piles for six weeks and after that matured in open windows for minimum six months.
Compost originates from Tallinn Waste Recycling Centre. Compost was applied to soil with
ploughing in autumn before spring barley growing season (in years 2012 – 2014). Compost was
applied in three norms according to total N (200, 275 and 350 kg ha-1
) (Table), variants are further
referred respectively C200, C275, C350. In addition, there was unfertilized control plot and all
experimental variants were three times replicated. The plot size was 50 m2. First year residual
effect to the potato tuber yield was estimated in years 2013 – 2015. Second year residual effect to
yield of spring wheat was studied in 2014. Absolute values of different crop yields cannot be
directly compared; therefore, we calculated relative yield indexes as a ratio to the control plots and
expressed proportional yield increase (%). Effect of compost on the crop yield was first tested by
ANOVA and in the case where this factor was significant (p<0.05) post-hoc Dunnet test was
performed (control plot versus compost norms).
Table
Chemical composition and application rates of compost Year Dry matter % pH KCl Ntot % Ptot % Ktot % Rates t ha
-1
2012 64 7.0 3.27 1.04 0.97 10/13/17
2013 38 7.4 3.34 3.08 0.87 16/22/28
2014 64 7.1 4.0 0.53 0.90 8/11/14
Direct effect of compost application on the increase of barley yield was statistically
significant (p < 0.001). The highest increase of barley grain yield with the use of compost was in
2014. As an average of three years (2012 – 2014) barley yield increased by 0.87, 1.13 and
1.52 t ha-1
with compost norm 200, 275 and 350 kg N ha-1
respectively. There were no significant
differences in grain yields between compost application norms. Three year average proportional
yield increase in first growing season after compost application was in range 40 – 50% (Figure).
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
40
Figure. Yield increase (%) with the use of compost compared to the unfertilized control
plot. C200, C275 and C350 - compost
First year residual effect to the potato yield was significant (F = 8.9; p < 0.001). All compost
norms resulted in significant yield increase compared to the unfertilized control plot. In this case,
the lowest compost rate (200 kg N ha-1
) yield increase was 19% (Figure 1). The second year
residual effect of compost use to spring wheat grain yield was already smaller (8 – 17%) and
statistically non-significant (F = 3.2; p = 0.07). Residual effect of compost is decreasing year-by-
year as expected. In the third growing season after application the effect is not significant, but it is
still important to consider, especially if we take in account cumulative yield increase through all
crop rotation.
First year effect of compost increased barley yield by 40 – 50%, first year residual effect
resulted in increase of potato yield by 19 – 30% and second year residual effect to wheat yield was
in the range from 8 to 17%. In addition to the first year yield increase, it is very important to
consider positive residual effect of compost use.
References
1. Arthur, E., Cornelis, W.M., Vermang, J., De Rocker, E. (2010). Amending a loamy sand with three
compost types: impact on soil quality. Soil Use and Management, 27, pp.116–123.
2. Cela, S., Santiveri, F., Lloveras, J. (2011). Residual effects of pig slurry and mineral nitrogen fertilizer
on irrigated wheat. European Journal of Agronomy, 34, pp. 257–262.
3. D’Hose, T., Cougnon, M., De Vliegher, A., Willekens, K., Van Bockstaele, E., Reheul, D. (2012).
Farm compost application: effects on crop performance. Compost Science and Utilization, 20,
pp. 49–56.
4. Mallory, E.B., Griffin, T.S., Porter, G.A. (2010). Seasonal nitrogen availability from current and past
applications of manure. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 88, pp. 351–360.
5. Petersen, J., Thomsen, I.K., Mattsson, L., Hansen, E.M., Christensen, B.T. (2010). Grain yield and
crop N offtake in response to residual N in long-term field experiments. Soil Use and Management, 26,
pp. 455–464.
6. Riley, H. (2016). Residual value of inorganic fertilizer and farmyard manure for crop yields and soil
fertility after long-term use on a loam soil in Norway. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 104,
pp. 25–37.
40
19
8
49
24
15
50
30
17
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Direct effect (barley) 1st year residual effect (potato) 2nd year residual effect
(wheat)
C200 C275 C350
Relative yield increase, %
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
41
LONG-TERM IMPACT OF REDUCED INTENSITY TILLAGE SYSTEMS, STRAW AND
GREEN MANURE COMBINATIONS ON SOIL AGGREGATION, WATER CAPACITY,
PORE STRUCTURE AND BULK DENSITY
Vaclovas Bogužas, Vaida Steponavičienė, Aušra Sinkevičienė,
Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Agronomy Faculty, Lithuania
Since 1999, a long-term field experiment has been done at the Experimental Station of
Aleksandras Stulginskis University at 54º52′50 N latitude and 23º49′41 E longitude. The soil of
the experiment site is Epieutric Endocalcaric Endogleyic Planosol (Endoclayic, Aric, Drainic,
Humic, Episiltic) according to WRB (2014), texture at 0 – 20 cm depth is silty medium loam
(33.7% sand, 50.3% silt, 16.0% clay), at 20 – 40 cm depth – silty light loam (35.4% sand, 51.1%
silt, 13.5% clay). The objective of our investigations was to assess the long-term impact of reduced
intensity tillage systems, straw and green manure combinations on soil aggregation, water capacity,
pore structure and bulk density.
A short crop rotation was introduced: winter wheat, spring barley, spring rape. The results
were obtained in 2014 when winter wheat was grown. According to two factor field experiment,
the straw (factor A) was removed (R) from one part of the experimental field and on the other part
of the field all straw yield was chopped and spread (S) at harvesting. As a subplot 6 different tillage
systems (factor B) were investigated: conventional ploughing (CP) at 23 – 25 cm depth in autumn,
shallow ploughing (SP) at 10 – 12 cm depth in autumn, shallow loosening (SL) with sweep
cultivator and disc harrow at 8–10 cm depth in autumn, shallow rotovating (SR) at 5 – 6 cm depth
before next crop sowing, catch cropping for green manure and rotovating (GMR) at 5 – 6 cm depth
before next crop sowing, no-tillage (NT), direct drilling. Catch crop white mustard (Sinapis
alba L.) for green manure was undersown on stubble only in GMR plots just after winter wheat and
spring barley harvest. The trials were replicated four times. The treatments were arranged using a
split-plot design. The total size of each plot was 102 (6 × 17) m2 and net size was 30.0
(2.0 × 15) m2. The soil samples have been analysed in the Agro-biological laboratory of
Aleksandras Stulginskis University.
The results after 15 years of investigation showed that continuous straw retention decreases
amount of micro aggregates (˂ 0.25 mm) and increases aggregate stability in 10 – 25 cm depth to
compare with 0 – 10 cm depth. In plots without straw there was no significant differences. Soil
tillage has no significant effect either. Compared with conventional deep ploughing, no-tillage in
the deeper layer increases volumetric water content at water column 4 – 30 cm height, which
means that it can hold more water at low pressure. Other tillage treatments and straw incorporation
have no effect. Straw retention has no influence on soil pore structure. Compared with conventional
deep ploughing, shallow loosening decreases total porosity, especially of macro pores in both upper
and lower soil layers. No-tillage had no positive effect on total porosity in the upper soil layer, and
in deeper soil layer it even increased, especially the amount of macro pores. Straw retention has no
influence on soil bulk density. Compared with conventional deep ploughing, shallow loosening
increases soil bulk density both in upper and lower soil layers. No-tillage does not influence bulk
density in upper soil layer, but in deeper soil layer this indicator of soil compaction even decreases.
Reference
IUSS Working Group WRB (2014). World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2014. International classification
system for naming soil and creating legends for soil maps. Access through internet: http://www.fao.org/3/a-
i3794e.pdf
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
42
SOIL STRUCTURE AND ORGANIC MATTER ASSESSMENT IN CROP ROTATION
Rimantas Vaisvalavičius, Romutė Mikučionienė, Jūratė Aleinikovienė, Vita Smalstienė
Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuania
[email protected]; [email protected]
The number of scientific studies has shown that plant-soil interactions are a driving force for
primary productivity, nutrient and carbon cycling, vegetation dynamics, and ecosystem responses
to global change. However, soil management itself can influence the changes in soil stability and
productivity. The decrease of soil organic matter content is mainly related with low organic matter
inputs. Thus, accumulated humus is then intensively mineralized or dehumified. The farm practices
survey in Lithuania has indicated that short crop rotation of three-course (45%) and 4-year crop
rotation (36%) with more nutrient exhausting crops are the most dominant. It was also indicated
that in the research knowledge implementation young farmers (20-30-year-old, 45% of the
questioned farmers) have been more active, but middle age farmers (41-50-year-old, 22% of the
questioned farmers) have been less active to apply knowledge.
Our research revealed that there has been the tendency that along the increase in organic
matter content soil structure and stability of aggregates have been increasing. The regression
analysis showed the linear reliance of water-stable soil aggregates on the content of organic carbon
(r = 0.70), and the soil bulk density (r = 0.59), as well as on the soil aeration porosity (r = 0.32).
Thus, the quantity of the stable aggregates has had a large positive effect not only on the content of
organic carbon but also improved soil aeration porosity and soil bulk density. Although plant by-
residues did not change soil organic carbon content essentially (Fig.), however in general, it has
been a supporting factor to maintain humification and mineralization processes in balance.
Fig. Soil organic carbon content in plough layer at different depth under the barley crop. Klovainiai
(Lithuania), 2014 (ŽNŠ– white mustard for green manure, nitrogen and removed straw, ŽŠ – white mustard
for green manure and removed straw, ŽBŠ – white mustard for green manure, biological preparation and
removed straw, ŠN – removed straw and nitrogen, Š – removed straw ŠB – removed straw and biological
preparation).
References
1. Arlauskienė, A., Maikštėnienė, S., Šlepetienė, A. (2009). The effect of catch crops and straw on spring
barley nitrogen nutrition and soil humus composition. Agriculture, Vol. 96 (2), pp. 53–70.
2. Mattila, T., Helin, T., Antikainen, R. (2012). Land Use Indicators in Life Cycle Assessment. The
International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, Vol. 17, Issue 3, pp. 277–286.
3. Mikučionienė, R. (2010). Integrated Evaluation of the Capacity and Main Properties of Gleyic Luvisols
with Different Fertilization Systems: PhD Thesis. Lithuanian University of Agriculture, 83 p. (in
Lithuanian)
4. Vaisvalavičius, R., Aleinikovienė, J., Mikučionienė, R., Smalstienė, V. (2015). The causes and
consequences of soil organic matter and structure loosing: the study of crop rotation practice: Project
intermediate report. Akademija, 49 p. (in Lithuanian).
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
43
THE EFFECT OF ALTERNATIVE CROPPING SYSTEMS ON THE DYNAMICS OF THE
MAIN NUTRITIONAL ELEMENTS IN THE SOIL
Laura Masilionytė, Stanislava Maikštėnienė
Joniškėlis Experimental Station, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry
Experiments were conducted at Joniškėlis Experimental Station of the Lithuanian Research
Centre for Agriculture and Forestry in 2006–2013, in the soil which is characterised by low
phosphorus and high potassium contents. The research was carried out in the crop rotation’s grass-
cereal sequence: perennial grasses (grown as green manure) → winter wheat. The literature suggests
that the use of farmyard manure at the optimum incorporated amount of 40 Mg ha-1
can compensate
for losses resulting from being removed from the soil through harvesting (Bergström et al., 2015).
The aim of experiments is to determine the changes of biogenic soil elements in the organic cropping
systems by using farmyard manure and aftermath of red clover for green manure or their
combinations for winter wheat fertilization, and in sustainable cropping systems – by replenishing the
amount of nutritional elements with mineral fertilizers. The NP balance was strongly positive and K
was significantly in excess in the organic cropping system when the green manure had been used in
combination with 40 Mg ha-1
of farmyard manure (Table).
Table
Changes of P2O5 and K2O amount in soil, mg kg-1
Cropping system Organic and mineral fertilizers P2O5 K2O
Beginning of rotation
Organic I aftermath of perennial grass 122.30 219.90
Organic II aftermath of perennial grass + farmyard manure 40 Mg ha-1
105.55* 206.11*
Sustainable I farmyard manure 40 Mg ha-1
96.11* 206.40*
Sustainable II aftermath of perennial grass + N30P60K60 120.94 229.13*
End of the first crop rotation, 2006–2009
Organic I aftermath of perennial grass 100.50 204.73
Organic II aftermath of perennial grass + farmyard manure 40 Mg ha-1
103.50 219.42*
Sustainable I farmyard manure 40 Mg ha-1
103.10 217.52*
Sustainable II aftermath of perennial grass + N30P60K60 124.52* 212.84*
End of the second crop rotation, 2010–2013
Organic I aftermath of perennial grass 86.96 204.00
Organic II aftermath of perennial grass + farmyard manure 40 Mg ha-1
95.46* 224.25*
Sustainable I farmyard manure 40 Mg ha-1
97.00* 246.00**
Sustainable II aftermath of perennial grass + N30P60K60 107.25** 218.05
A marked reduction in the available phosphorus content in the soil was established when
green manure or 40 Mg ha-1
of farmyard manure or their combinations had been applied. Also,
potassium levels increased in the organic cropping system where green or farmyard manure had been
applied. When 40 Mg ha-1
of farmyard manure and N30 mineral fertilizer had been used in the
sustainable cropping system to promote straw mineralization, in the sustainable cropping systems that
had used the perennial grass aftermath as green manure with minimum rates of mineral fertilizer
N30P60K60, N balance was negative, P – marginally positive, K value was positive, marginally
negative. In the sustainable cropping system, where perennial grass aftermath for green manure and
N30P60K60 had been used for winter wheat during two 4-field crop rotations the available phosphorus
and potassium quantity in the soil showed a trend towards decreasing.
Acknowledgments
This work was part of the long-term research programme “Productivity and Sustainability of
Agricultural and Forest Soils”, implemented by the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and
Forestry.
References
Bergström, L., Kirchmann, H., Djodjic, F., Kyllmar, K., Ulén, B., Liu, J., Svanbäck, A. (2015). Turnover and
losses of phosphorus in Swedish agricultural soils: Long-term changes, leaching trends, and mitigation
measures. Journal of Environmental Quality, 44(2), 512–523.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
44
INFLUENCE OF PREPARATION ALBIT ON MEMBRANE INJURY OF WINTER
WHEAT DURING COLD STRESS
Raimondas Kosteckas, Natalija Burbulis
Institute of Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuania
Low temperature is one of the primary stress factors that limits growth and productivity of
winter annual plants. Winter plants have evolved survival mechanisms that are temperature
regulated to cope with low temperature stress. During cold acclimation, several physiological,
biochemical and molecular changes occur. Accumulation of soluble carbohydrates is one of the
best-known responses of plants to cold. It begins early during the response to cold. Sugars may
depress the freezing point of the tissue, and act as a nutrient and energy reserve, alter phase
properties of membranes in the dry state, and act as cryoprotectants to preserve protein structure
and function (Xin, Browse, 2000). Frost tolerance field studies are difficult to replicate due to the
extreme environmental variability. Because of this variability, the laboratory procedures to measure
freezing tolerance have been developed by a number of investigators. In several crops, assessing
membrane stability by measuring electrolyte leakage following a simulated freeze-thaw stress is a
rapid and reliable screening technique for freezing tolerance (Rife, Zeinali, 2003). The objective of
this study was to evaluate the effect of preparation Albit on membrane injury of winter wheat
shoots cultured in vitro.
The study was carried out at the JRC Agrobiotechnology Laboratory, Aleksandras
Stulginskis University with winter wheat cultivar ‘Aura’. Shoots were cultivated on Murashige and
Skoog medium, supplemented with 2.0 g L-1
, 4.0 g L-1
and 6.0 g L-1
concentrations of preparation
Albit. Shoots were acclimated in a vernalization chamber at 4ºC temperature for 14 days. Total
soluble sugars (reducing and nonreducing) were determined according Yemm, Willis (1954). The
membrane injury for leaf discs was estimated by the electrolyte leakage test according to Rapacz
(2002). Differences between the treatments for parameters were аnаlyzed using the software STАT
(Tаrаkаnovаs, Rаudonius, 2003). Mean value and standard error (SE) for each treatment were
calculated based on the number of independent replication.
During the plant cold acclimation, the content of most solutes in leaf cells increases, and
there is evidence from several studies that at least some of these solutes may be important for the
development of freezing tolerance. We have therefore measured the amounts of soluble sugars in
leaf samples from all treatments before and during cold acclimation. Sugars may depress the
freezing point of the tissue, and act as a nutrient and energy reserve, alter phase properties of
membranes in the dry state, and act as cryoprotectants to preserve protein structure and function.
Sugar accumulation at cold temperatures has been widely documented in different plants. The
results of the present study demonstrate that after days of cold acclimatization soluble sugars
content in winter wheat shoots increased only 1.5 times in comparison with non-acclimated shoots.
On the medium supplemented with preparation Albit electrolyte leakage of treated shoots was
approximately 18% lower in comparison with non-treated shoots. Our results are in agreement with
other researchers studies. Sasaki et al. (1996) reported that sugar contents were not always
consistent with the degree of freezing tolerance and that factors other than sugar may also affect
freezing tolerance.
References
1. Rapacz, M. (2002). Regulation of frost resistance during cold de-acclimation and re-acclimation in
oilseed rape. A possible role of PSII redox state. Physiology Plantarum, No. 115, pp. 236–243.
2. Rife, C.L., Zeinali, H. (2003). Cold tolerance in oilseed rape over varying acclimation durations. Crop
Science, No. 43, pp. 96–100.
3. Sasaki, H., Ichimura, K., Oda, M. (1996). Changes in sugar content during cold acclimation and
deacclimation of cabbage seedlings. Annals of Botany, No. 78, pp. 365–369.
4. Tаrаkаnovаs, P., Rаudonius, S. (2003). Аgronominių tyrimų duomenų stаtistinė anаlizė, tаikаnt
kompiuterines progrаmаs АNOVА, STАT, SPLIT-PLOT iš Pаketo SELEKCIJА. Аkаdemijа, 56 p. (in
Lithuаniаn).
5. Xin, Z., Browse, J. (2000). Cold comfort farm: the acclimation of plants to freezing temperatures. Plant
Cell & Environment, No. 23, pp. 893–902.
6. Yemm, E.W., Willis, A.J. (1954). Estimation of carbohydrates in plant extracts by anthore. Biochemistry,
No. 57, pp. 508–514.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
45
THE EFFECT OF SULPHUR FERTILISATION ON THE YIELD OF SPRING WHEAT
Loreta Aleknavičienė1, Gediminas Staugaitis
2, Zita Brazienė
3, Virgilijus Paltanavičius
4
1,3Rumokai Experimental Station, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry,
Lithuania; 2,4
Agrochemical Research Laboratory, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and
Forestry, Lithuania; [email protected]
Sulphur is one of four main organogenic elements that are essential for plants (Mašauskas at al.,
2005). Positive results of the application of this element to cereals have been reported by many
researchers (Zhao et al., 2006). However, the presented data regarding the effect of sulphur on wheat
differ: some researchers state that sulphur fertilisation has significant influence on the yield (Weiser et
al., 2004), others maintain that sulphur improves the quality of grains (Flaete et al., 2005), and still
others claim that sulphur fertilisation increases the yield and improves the quality of grains
(Staugaitienė et al., 2013). Lithuanian research into total qualities of sulphur in the leaves of spring
wheat at 28 and 55 BBCH stages showed that the quantity of this element was close to the lower
optimum threshold. The optimum recommended quantity at these stages is > 0.3% (Breuer et al., 2003).
In 2013–2014, research was conducted at Rumokai Experimental Station of the Lithuanian
Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry to determine the effect of sulphur fertilisation on the yield
of spring wheat. Before the sowing of spring wheat, soil samples were taken. In accordance with
agrochemical indicators of the soil and the software “Racionalus tręšimas” (“Efficient Fertilisation”),
the rate of NPK fertilisers was calculated. Spring wheat was treated with ammonium nitrate, potassium
chloride, and diammonium phosphate. Additionally, the following experimental ammonium sulphate
fertilisation scheme was applied: 1) Control; 2) Ammonium sulfate15 before sowing; 3) Ammonium
sulfate3,6 at 32–33 BBCH stage via leaves.
During research years, it was ascertained that if spring wheat is treated with sulphur before
sowing, the grain yield increases by 2.1% on average, while leaves treatment at 32-33 BBCH stage
leads to an increase of 4.9% compared with areas untreated with sulphur. The increase of yield
following leaves treatment was statistically reliable during both years of research. Sulphur treatment
during the main fertilisation resulted in a significant increase of the number of productive stems. In
addition, sulphur fertilisation before sowing increased the number of grains per ear by 3.7%. With
regard to the 1000 grain weight, a more significant impact was caused by additional treatment of wheat
leaves with sulphur fertiliser. No relation was discovered between sulphur fertilisation and crude protein
content in the grains of spring wheat.
Table
The effect of sulphur fertilisation on the grain yield of spring wheat, its structural indicators
and quality
Fertilisation Grain yield
Number of
productive stems
Number of
grains per ear
1000 grain
weight Crude protein
t ha-1
rel. units m-2
rel. units rel. g rel. % rel.
NPK (control) 5.36 100.0 615 100.0 32.1 100.0 36.89 100.0 11.60 100.0
NPK+S15 5.47 102.1 639 103.9 33.3 103.7 37.05 100.4 11.36 97.9
NPK+S3.6 5.62 104.9 615 100.0 32.1 100.0 37.94 102.8 11.44 98.6
R05 0.151 × 18.665 × 2.23 × 0.492 × 0.475 ×
References
1. Breuer, J., König, V., Merkel, D., Olfs, H.W., Steingrobe, B., Stimpfl, E., Wissemeier, A., Zorn, W.
(2003). Die Pflanzenanalyse zur Diagnose des Ernährungszustandes von Kulturpflanzen. Agrimedia, pp.
33–34. (In German).
2. Flaete, N.E.S., Hollung, K., Ruud, L., Sogn, T., Faergestad, E.M., Skarpeid, H.J., Magnus, E.M., Uhlen,
A.K. (2005). Combined nitrogen and sulphur fertilisation and its effect on wheat quality and protein
composition measured by SE-FPLC and proteomics. Journal of Cereal Science, Vol. 41, pp. 357–369.
3. Mašauskas, V., Mašauskienė, A. (2005). The impact of the long-term application of superphosphate as
sulphur containing fertilizer on the yield of crops in the rotation. Žemdirbystė. Mokslo darbai, No. 4 (92),
pp. 36–51.
4. Staugaitienė, R., Šlepetienė, A., Žičkienė, L. (2013). The effect of sulphur fertilisation on grain yield and
quality of spring wheat. Žemės ūkio mokslai, No. 20 (4), pp. 266–275.
5. Weiser A., Guster, R., Tucher, S. (2004). Influence of sulphur fertilisation on quantities and proportions
of gluten protein types in wheat flour. Journal of Cereal Science, Vol. 40(3), pp. 239–244.
6. Zhao, F.J., Fortune, S., Barbosa, V.L., McGrath, S.P., Stobart, R., Bilsborrow, P.E., Booth, E.J., Brown,
A., Robson, P.Z. (2006). Effects of sulphur on yield and malting quality of barley. Journal of Cereal
Science, Vol. 43(3), pp. 369–377.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
46
IMPACT OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY ON PRECIPITATION
FILTRATION IN LITHUANIA
Liudmila Tripolskaja
Lithuanian Researh Centre for Agriculture and Forestry Voke Branch, Lithuania
Percolating moisture regime is typical in many Western and Eastern European countries,
and percolated precipitation significantly influences chemical composition of groundwater and
river runoff. Agricultural lands, where various agro-technical measures are used for crop yield
enlargement, very negatively affect the quality of underground water basins and reservoirs
(Adomaitis, 2010, Sørensen et. al., 2012).
Meteorological data of the last decades show warming of the climate: the average annual
air temperature has increased by 0.1–0.9 °C, the highest increase is observed in late autumn and
spring temperatures; the number of days with negative temperatures has decreased (Kriauciuniene
et. al., 2012). Changes in the air temperature and precipitation amount, and intensity can affect
rainfall infiltration.
The aim of this work is to assess the impact of varying climate conditions on the filtration of
atmospheric precipitation in sandy loam soil based on the data on precipitation filtration obtained in
the course of experiments in stationary lysimeters during the years 1987–2014. Linear function
(y = a + bx) of infiltration of precipitation for a certain season of year (spring, summer, autumn,
winter) has been applied to definition of trends of infiltration change during 1987–2014.
Over the study period, during the hydrological year 36.4-50.9 % of precipitation (254.1–
347.9 L m-2
) was infiltrated in sandy loam soil. Since 2002 the amount of infiltration water has
been gradually increasing, and it was influenced not just by larger precipitation amount but also by
other factors. Annual rainfall amount weakly correlated with the extent of infiltration (r = 0.32).
This shows that in Lithuania infiltration is strongly influenced by thermal regime, evaporation
conditions, as well as rainfall intensity, as noted by other researchers as well (Mclsaac, 2012).
More abundant infiltration takes place during the spring – on average 33.9% of the annual amount
of infiltrate. Until the spring of 2002, the average amount of infiltrate was 89.3–86.0 L m-2
year-1
,
and since 2003 the amount reached 131.1–115.2 L m-2
year-1
. During the summer season rainfall
infiltration was small, and during 1987–2014 it accounted for an average of 13.8 % (42.8 L m-2
) of
annual infiltrate content. Since 2002, due to increased rainfall, infiltration in summer intensified,
and in 2009–2014 it accounted for 15.7% (52.2 L m-2
) of annual infiltrate content. During the
summer the amount of infiltrate strongly correlates with rainfall amount (r = 0.84). In 1987–2014
autumn infiltrate comprised 25.8 % (80.1 L m-2
) of annual infiltrate amount. Until 2009 infiltration
volumes were fairly similar – 65.0–76.3 L m-2
, but during 2009–2014 they increased up to
108.3 L m-2
, which resulted in more intense infiltration in September. In winter period during
1987–1992, the average amount of infiltrate was 105.7 L m-2
, while up to 2009–2014 it consistently
declined to 57.3 L m-2
. Infiltration mostly declined during January and February.
During 1987–2014 on the territory of Lithuania, due to increasing temperature and longer
spring and autumn periods, the annual amount of precipitation infiltrate slightly increased
(yannual = 17.0x + 267.9; R2 = 0.29). The trend towards increased infiltration was recorded for spring
(yspring = 12.3x + 74.7; R2 = 0.54), summer (ysummer = 4.8x + 30.8; R
2 = 0.45) and autumn
(yautumn = 12.4x + 49.2; R2 = 0.680), while in winter the infiltration amount reduced
(ywinter = -12.4x + 113.3; R2 = 0.56).
References
1. Adomaitis, T., Mažvila, J., Vaišvila, Z., Arbačiauskas, J., Antanaitis, A., Lubytė, J., Šumskis, D. (2010).
The effect of long-term fertilisation on anion leaching. Žemdirbystė=Agriculture, No. 1(97), pp. 71–82.
2. Kriauciuniene, J., Meilutyte-Barauskiene, D., Reihan, A., Koltsova, T., Lizuma, L., Sarauskiene, D.
(2012). Variability in temperature, precipitation and river discharge in the Baltic States. Boreal
Environment Research, No. 17, pp. 150–162.
3. Mclsaac, G. (2012). Agricultural nutrient management in the Great Lakes region. In: Ch. Jakobsson (ed.)
Sustainable Agriculture, Uppsala University, Sweden, pp. 102–106.
4. Sørensen, P., Rubæk, G.H. (2012). Leaching of nitrate and phosphorus after autumn and spring
application of separated solid animal manures to winter wheat. Soil Use and Management, No. 28(1),
pp. 1–11.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
47
EFFECT OF L-GLUTAMIC ACID ON COLD TOLERANCE OF
WINTER RAPESEED SHOOTS
Remigijus Peleckis, Natalija Burbulis
Institute of Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuania
Cold and frost limit the growing seasons and geographic distributions of plants, but most
overwintering plants are able to increase their freezing tolerance when exposed to non-freezing low
temperatures, a process known as cold acclimation. Survival of plants at freezing temperatures is
dependent on their ability to cold acclimate in response to environmental stimuli such as short-days
and low temperatures (Xin, Browse, 2000). During the plant cold acclimation, the content of most
solutes in leaf cells increases, and there is evidence from several studies that at least some of these
solutes may be important for the development of freezing tolerance (Trischuk et al., 2006). Many
investigators have ascribed to proline a positive role associated with some sort of adaptive
response. The core of proline metabolism involves two enzymes catalyzing proline synthesis from
glutamate in the cytoplasm or chloroplast, two enzymes catalyzing proline catabolism back to
glutamate in the mitochondria (Verslues, Sharma, 2010). The aim of the present experiment was to
evaluate the influence of L-glutamic acid on cold tolerance of winter rapeseed shoots.
Investigation was carried out during 2014-2015 at the JRC Agrobiotechnology Laboratory,
Aleksandras Stulginskis University with winter rapeseed cultivar ‘Cult’. Shoots were cultivated on
Murashige Skoog medium, supplemented with 10.0 mM, 15.0 mM and 20.0 mM concentrations of
L-glutamic acid. Shoots were acclimated in a vernalization chamber at 4ºC temperature for 14
days. Endogenous proline content was determined using a revised ninhydrin method (McClinchey,
Kott, 2008). The membrane injury for leaf discs was estimated by the electrolyte leakage test
according to Rapacz (2002). Differences between the treatments for parameters were аnаlyzed
using the software STАT (Tаrаkаnovаs, Rаudonius, 2003). Mean value and standard error (SE) for
each treatment were calculated based on the number of independent replication.
Our results showed that application of tested concentration of L-glutamic acid significantly
increased the amount of endogenous proline in winter rapeseed under low positive temperature. L-
glutamic acid treated shoots showed significantly higher endogenous proline content compared
with control shoots. The highest level of endogenous proline has been observed in shoots cultured
on medium supplemented with 20.0 mM L-glutamic acid. Cold tolerance (expressed in terms of
electrolyte leakage) of winter rapeseed shoots cultured with and without L-glutamic acid has been
evaluated. The highest electrolyte leakage has been obtained from leaves of acclimated shoots
without L-glutamic acid treatment. Several comprehensive studies using transgenic plants or
mutants demonstrate that proline metabolism has a complex effect on development and stress
responses, and that proline accumulation is important for the tolerance of certain adverse
environmental conditions (Verslues, Sharma, 2010). In present study, the addition of L-glutamic
acid to culture medium resulted in significant increase of endogenous proline in rapeseed shoots
and subsequently in significant increase in cold tolerance. On the medium supplemented with L-
glutamic acid electrolyte leakage of treated shoots was approximately 20% lower in comparison
with non-treated shoots.
References
1. McClinchey, S.L., Kott, L.S. (2008). Production of mutants with high cold tolerance in spring canola
(Brassica napus). Euphytica, No. 162, pp. 18–27.
2. Rapacz, M. (2002). Regulation of frost resistance during cold de-acclimation and re-acclimation in
oilseed rape. A possible role of PSII redox state. Physiology Plantarum, No. 115, pp. 236–243.
3. Tаrаkаnovаs, P., Rаudonius, S. (2003). Аgronominių tyrimų duomenų stаtistinė anаlizė, tаikаnt
kompiuterines progrаmаs АNOVА, STАT, SPLIT-PLOT iš Pаketo SELEKCIJА. Аkаdemijа, 56 p. (in
Lithuаniаn).
4. Trischuk, R.G., Schilling, B.S., Wisniewski, M., Gusta, L.V. (2006). Freezing stress: systems biology to
study cold tolerance. In: Madhava Rao, K.V. et al. (eds.). Physiology and molecular biology of stress
tolerance in plants, Springer, pp. 131–155.
5. Verslues, P.E., Sharma, S. (2010). Proline metabolism and its implications for plant–environment
interaction. The Arabidopsis Book, No. 8, pp. 1–23.
6. Xin, Z., Browse, J. (2000). Cold comfort farm: the acclimation of plants to freezing temperatures. Plant
Cell & Environment, No. 23, pp. 893–902.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
48
ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL COMMUNITY COMPOSITION OF NEW EUROPEAN
POTATO VARIETIES GROWN IN CONVENTIONALLY TREATED FIELD SOIL
Kaire Loit1, Liina Soonvald
1, Eve Runno-Paurson
1, Leho Tedersoo
,2
1Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences,
Estonia; 2Natural History Museum, University of Tartu, Estonia
The growth of agricultural yields in recent years relies mainly on the use of synthetic
fertilizers and pesticides and therefore has a strong negative impact on the environment. To ensure
the sustainable development of agriculture, alternative solutions should be considered. One of such
options could be the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). AMF are ecologically and
agriculturally important symbionts because they improve plant mineral nutrition, notably with
phosphorus (P) and other non-labile mineral nutrients essential for plant growth in many crops
(Smith and Read, 2008). Therefore, AMF potentially plays important roles in sustainable plant
production systems that reduce or eliminate synthetic chemical inputs (Douds et al., 2007). AMF
assemblages in the soil are affected by different management systems, fertilization regimes and
usage of chemical fungicides (Jansa et al., 2002; Kabir, 2005; Jansa et al., 2009; Buysens et al.,
2015). Moreover, these fungi are also dependent on host genotype (Song et al., 2015). Although
AMF is holding a wide host range, some AMF-plant host combinations are more preferred than
others. The aim of the study was to get new knowledge about AMF-plant genotype incompatibility.
Therefore, in total 315 soil and root samples were collected in 2013 from plants of 21 different
potato varieties. The field site of the sampling was located in Reola, Estonia (58°17'02.0"N
26°43'19.6"E). AMF community composition was assessed by using Illumina Mi/Seq sequencing
of ITS2 region.
Results showed that the community structure of AMF was different across all varieties of
potato. Furthermore, the composition varied between growth stages in both rhizosphere soil and
plant roots. The AMF community composition of soil was the lowest before plant emergence. In
contrast, in the senescence stage of plants more diverse structure was observed. The same pattern
was noticed in the root samples. Also, root samples at different growth stages exhibited a different
distribution of AMF. AMF found present in emergence phase, were absent in senescence phase and
vice versa.
Our study demonstrates a complex interaction between a plant host and their associated
AMF. Plant genotype exhibits an important role creating AMF community in roots. Additionally,
our results suggest that the aspects of AMF communities may be partially explained by the plant
productive stage which also has a broader effect on the plant rhizosphere structure as a whole.
References 1. Buysens, C., Dupré De Boulois, H., Declerck, S. (2015). Do fungicides used to control Rhizoctonia solani
impact the non-target arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis? Mycorrhiza, No. 25, pp.
277–288.
2. Douds, D. D., Nagahashi, G., Reider, C., Hepperly, P. R. (2007). Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal
fungi increases the yield of potatoes in a high P soil. Biological Agriculture & Horticulture, No. 25, pp.
67–78.
3. Jansa, J., Mozafar, A., Anken, T., Ruh, R., Sanders, I. R., Frossard, E. (2002). Diversity and structure of
AMF communities as affected by tillage in a temperate soil. Mycorrhiza, No. 12, pp. 225–234.
4. Jansa, J., Oberholzer, H. R., Egli, S. (2009). Environmental determinants of the arbuscular mycorrhizal
fungal infectivity of Swiss agricultural soils. European Journal of Soil Biology, No. 45, pp. 400–408.
5. Kabir, Z. (2005). Tillage or no-tillage: Impact on mycorrhizae. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, No.
85, pp. 23–29.
6. Smith, S. E., & Read, D. J. (2008). Mycorrhizal Symbiosis. 3rd
ed. Academic Press, Amsterdam, The
Netherlands.
7. Song, F., Pan, Z., Bai, F., An, J., Liu, J., Guo, W., Bisseling, T., Deng, X., Xiao, S. (2015). The
Scion/Rootstock Genotypes and Habitats Affect Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Community in Citrus.
Frontiers in Microbiology, No. 6, eCollection.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
49
COMPARISON OF THE EXTENT OF COLONIZATION OF ARBUSCULAR
MYCORRHIZA IN PLANT ROOTS IN DIFFERENT CULTIVATION PRACTICES
Kaire Loit¹, Martin Kukk¹, Maarja Öpik², Eve Runno-Paurson¹
1Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences,
2Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu
The increasing demand for food leads to higher usage of chemical fertilizers and synthetic
biocides. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find novel approaches to enhance sustainable
agriculture while not reducing crop yields. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may provide an
alternative to reduce the high inputs of fertilizers and pesticides (Augé, 2015; Smith & Smith,
2011). Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), one of the largest food crops in the world has the heaviest
demands for fertilizers and pesticides of all vegetable crops (Wu et al., 2013) and these have a
negative impact on AMF (Verbruggen et al., 2010).
This study investigated the extent of colonization of potato roots by indigenous AMF in the
field soil under different agricultural treatments, including different fertilization regimes. Our field
trials comprised the extent of AMF colonization of potato roots in conventionally and organically
managed fields. Root samples were collected in 2010 from plants of the potato variety “Reet”. The
field site for the root sampling was located in Tartu, Estonia (58°22´ N, 26°40´ E). Root samples
were stained according to Koske & Gemma (1989), and root colonization was estimated by
McGonigle et al., 1990.
The results show that the extent of AMF colonization in potato roots was extremely low in
both farming systems. To evaluate the inoculum potential (IP) in the field soil, Plantago lanceolata
L was used. The data from pot experiment showed the positive effect to growing amounts of
mineral fertilizers due to improved plant growth and then confirmed the negative impact of too
high amount of mineral fertilizers. Moreover, the low-input system showed a greater extent of
colonization in roots compared to the roots originating from the sites with the high-input system.
Our findings confirm that the natural AM fungal community was able to infect plants. Thus, plant
species was a significant factor affecting AMF colonization, and the IP of field soil depends on
agricultural treatments.
Therefore, we conclude that understanding the impact of agricultural treatments on AMF
colonization would help to design agricultural practices that maintain healthy AMF functioning
thus aiming to reduce agricultural chemical inputs.
References
1. Augé, R. (2001). Water relations, drought and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Mycorrhiza,
No. 11, pp. 3–42.
2. Hack, H., Gal, H., Klemke, T., Klose, R., Meier, U., Strauss, R., Witzenberger, A., Witzenberger, A.
(2001). The BBCH scale for phenological growth stages of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). In: Meier U,
ed. Growth stages of mono- and dicotyledonous plants, BBCH Monograph. Berlin, Braunschweig,
Germany: Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, pp. 7–16.
3. Koske, R. E., & Gemma, J. N., 1989. A modified procedure for staining roots to detect VA mycorrhizas.
Mycological Research, No. 92, pp. 486–488.
4. McGonigle, T., Miller, M., Evans, D., Fairchild, G., Swan, J. (1990) A new method which gives an
objective measure of colonization of roots by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. New Phytologist,
No. 115, pp. 495–501.
5. Smith, S., Smith, A. (2011). What is the significance of the arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation of many
economically important crop plants? Plant Soil, No. 348, pp. 63–79.
6. Verbruggen, E., Röling, W., Gamper, H., Kowalchuk, G., Verhoef, H., Van der Heijden, M., (2010).
Positive effects of organic farming on below-ground mutualists: large scale comparison of mycorrhizal
fungal communities in agricultural soils. New Phytologist, No. 186, pp. 968–979.
7. Wu, F., Wang, W., Ma, Y., Liu, Y., Ma, X., An, L., Feng, H. (2013). Prospect of beneficial
microorganisms applied in potato cultivation for sustainable agriculture. African Journal of Microbiology
Research, No. 7, pp. 2150–2158.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
50
NITROGEN EFFECT ON WINTER WHEAT GRAIN PROTEIN CONTENT
Anda Liniņa, Antons Ruža
Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia
Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most productive and significant cereal
species in Latvia used for food grain production. Protein content is a primary quality component
that mostly influences the baking quality characteristics of wheat grain (Koga et al., 2015). Protein
accumulation in bread wheat largely depends on the distribution of nitrogen rates during the
growing season (Chope et al., 2015). The aim of this investigation was to clarify variation of
protein content on winter wheat grain depending on different nitrogen fertilizer rates.
Field experiments with winter wheat cultivars ‘Bussard’ and ‘Zentos’ were conducted at the
Latvia University of Agriculture, Study and Research farm “Peterlauki” (latitude: 56 30.658
longitude: 23 41.580) during a three year period (from 2009/2010 to 2011/2012),
Endoprotocalcic Chromic Stagnic Luvisol (Clayic Cutanic Hypereutric), silty clay loam/clay,
organic mater 20–31 g kg–1
, pH KCl – 6.6–7.0 and medium phosphorus and potassium content
easily utilized by plants. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers were applied in autumn P2O5 –
72 kg ha-1
and K2O – 90 kg ha-1
. Nitrogen (N) was applied (N60, N90, N120, N150 kg ha-1
) in
spring after resumption of vegetative growth. Grain protein content (PC) was calculated
multiplying total nitrogen content (determined by Kjeldahl method (ICC 105/2)) by factor 5.7.
Experimental data processing was done using two–factor analysis of variance (ANOVA), the least
significant difference (LSD0.05) also was determined.
Average data in our investigation (3 years) suggest that protein content in cultivar
‘Bussard’ grain was from 139.2 to 147.5 g kg-1
, it was significantly (p < 0.05) higher, compared to
‘Zentos’ – 113.2 to 131.2 g kg-1
(Table).
Table
Protein content (g kg-1
) in winter wheat grain depending on nitrogen fertilizer rate Nitrogen fertilizer (N) rate, kg ha
-1 ‘Bussard’ ‘Zentos’
N60 139.2 a 113.2
a
N90 139.8 a 118.5
b
N120 147.2 b 127.5
c
N150 147.5 b 131.2
d
LSD 0.05 2.1 1.7
The means in columns marked with the same letter did not differ significantly (p < 0.05).
Grain protein content significantly varied depending on the cultivars and nitrogen fertilizer
as previously observed (Jablonskité-Raščé et al., 2012; Chope et al., 2015).
In the current research nitrogen fertilizer significantly increased protein content for both
cultivars. The greatest content of protein was detected in the grain of both cultivars grown in the
plots fertilized with N150. Protein content in ‘Bussard’ grain in all N fertilized plots was high and
can be used for lower quality grain improver, while ‘Zentos’ only in plots fertilized with N120 and
N150 corresponded to required quality for bread making.
Acknowledgement. The research was supported by the State Research Programme “AgroBioRes”
Project No. 1 ”Sustainable use of soil resources and abatement of fertilisation risks (SOIL)”.
References
1. Jablonskité-Raščé, D., Maikšteniené, S., Mankevičiené, A. (2012). Evaluation of productivity and quality
of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spelt (Triticum spelta L.) in relation to nutrition conditions.
Zemdirbyste-Agriculture, No. 100 (1), pp. 45–56.
2. Chope, G.A., Wan, Y., Penson, S.P., Bhandari, D.G., Powers, S.J., Shewry, P.R.; Hawkesford, M.J.
(2015). Effect of genotype, season, and nitrogen nutrition on gene expression and protein accumulation in
wheat grain. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, No. 62, pp. 4399–4407.
3. Koga, S., Böcker, U., Moldestad, A., Tosi, P., Shewry, P.R., Mosleth, E.F., Uhlen, A.K. (2015).
Influence of temperature on the composition and polymerization of gluten proteins during grain filling in
spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L). Journal of Cereal Science, No. 65, pp. 1–8.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
51
INFLUENCE OF BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
OF MAIZE UNDER GREENHOUSE CONDITIONS
Agnė Pazareckaitė1, Agnė Girdvainytė
1, Gabrielė Pšibišauskienė
2, Ernestas Zaleckas
1
1Aleksandras Stulginskis university, Lithuania;
2 JSC Chemcentras, Lithuania
Agriculture is becoming more and more intense and farmers should take care of the soil,
restore its fertility. One of the options is to use biological products, because different
microorganisms are vital components of the soil. They mobilise nutrients, produce plant growth
regulators, protect plants from phytopathogens, improve soil structure and degrade xenobiotic
compounds (Ahemad, Kibret, 2013; Mercado-Flores et al., 2014). The use of biological products
results in the higher biomass and seedling height of maize. It also improves organic matter content
and total nitrogen (N) in soil (Wu et al., 2005).
The aim of the experiment – to find out the effectiveness of biological product for maize
growth in three different substrates under greenhouse conditions within 7 weeks. The research was
carried out from 9th of April to 26th of May, 2015. Maize seeds were treated in three different
ways: 1 – control (not treated), 2 – treated with biological product, 3 – treated with biological
product, fulvic, humic acids, 4 – treated with biological product, amino acids and seaweed extract.
Maize seedlings were grown in three different substrates: sandy loam, clay loam and peat substrate.
The research results have revealed differences in maize green mass, root mass, height, chlorophyll
index, area of the leaves and dry matter.
Maize green mass was higher when seeds were treated with biological product, fulvic and
humic acids, therefore, root mass was higher when seeds were treated with biological product,
amino acids and seaweed extract. It is noticed that the use of biological compounds have a positive
influence on maize chlorophyll index (Fig.).
Fig. Variation of chlorophyll index during the growth of maize in sandy loam.
References
1. Ahemad, M., Kibret, M. (2013). Mechanisms and applications of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria:
Current perspective. Journal of King Saud University – Science, No. 26, pp. 1–20.
2. Mercado-Flores, Y., Cárdenas-Álvarez, I.O., Rojas-Olvera, A.V., Pérez-Camarillo, J.P., Leyva-Mir, S.G.,
Anducho-Reyes, M.A. (2014). Application of Bacillus subtilis in the biological control of the
phytopathogenic fungus Sporisorium reilianum. Biological Control, No. 76, pp. 36–40.
3. Wu, S.C., Cao, Z.H., Li, Z.G., Cheung, K.C., Wong, M.H. (2005). Effects of biofertilizer containing N-
fixer, P and K solubilizers and AM fungi on maize growth: a greenhouse trial. Geoderma, No. 125, pp.
155–166.
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
52
THE OCCURENCE OF POTATO TUBER SILVER SCURF (HELMINTHOSPORIUM SOLANI) AS AFFECTED BY DIFFERENT FARMING SYSTEMS
Berit Tein, Karin Kauer, Mailiis Tampere, Anne Luik, Evelin Loit
Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia
e-mail [email protected]
Silver scurf (SC) (Helminthosporium solani (Durieu & Montagne)) is a potato (Solanum
tuberosum L.) tuber fungal disease that causes a metallic discoloration on the surface of the
periderm decreasing tuber quality. In severe cases the infected tubers will lose weight and shrink,
due to the excess water loss, causing also economic problems. As there are no SC resistant cultivars
available and the pathogen develops resistance against fungicides quite quickly, it is necessary to
investigate the impact of different farming systems (FS) on the containment of SC incidences.
Potato (cultivar `Maret`) was a part of a crop rotation experiment (results from 2015) in
which red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), pea (Pisum sativum
L.), potato and barely (Hordeum vulgare L.) undersown with red clover followed each other. The
experiment consisted of seven FS – four conventional (N0P0K0 – control, N50P25K95 – Nlow,
N100P25K95 – Naverage, N150P25K95 – Nhigh) and three organic (Organic, Organic with catch crops (CC),
Organic CC with manure (M) (20 t ha-1
)). The CC before potato was winter turnip rape (Brassica
rapa sp. Oleifera biennis). Seven months after the tubers were harvested, 100 marketable tubers
(diameter >35 mm) from each system replication (4 replications) were taken to assess the
incidences of SC.
The conventional Naverage system had significantly less tubers infected with SC compared to
all organic and conventional control systems (Fig.). The Organic CC+M system had significantly
more SC incidences compared to all fertilized systems.
Fig. The average percentage of tubers infected with silver scurf from marketable yield depending
on farming systems (FS). Different capital letters on top of the bars indicate significant influence
(ANOVA Fisher LSD test p < 0.05) of FS.
Although noted before (Tein et al., 2015) with winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus sp.
Oleifera biennis), in this case there was no disease reducing effect when the winter turnip rape was
used. Indicating that all Brassica species may not have similar impact on reducing SC, disease
incidences may depend more on the diversity of soil microbiome. The use of ammonium nitrate in
conventionally fertilized systems may biologically activate SC antagonists and thus control the SC
pathogenicity and decrease the tuber infections (Martinez et al., 2002).
References 1. Martinez, C., Michaud, M., Bélanger, R.R., Tweddell, R.J. (2002). Identification of soils suppressive
against Helminthosporium solani, the causal agent of potato silver scurf. Soil Biology and Biochemistry,
No. 34, pp. 1861–1868.
2. Tein, B., Kauer, K., Runno-Paurson, E., Eremeev, V., Luik, A., Selge, A., Loit, E. (2015). The potato
tuber disease occurrence as affected by conventional and organic farming systems. American Journal of
Potato Research, No. 92, pp. 662–672.
AB
AB B AB
AC C AC
0
25
50
75
100
Organic Organic CC Organic
CC+M
N0P0K0 N50P22K95 N100P25K95 N150P25K95 Tub
ers
wit
h s
ilver
scu
rf,
%
Farming system
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
53
LIST OF ORAL AND POSTER REPORTS
PRESENTED AT THE 20TH
BALTIC AGRONOMY FORUM
Oral reports
Kreišmane Dz. Challenges for future of agricultural science in Latvia.
Gaile Z. Actualities at the Faculty of Agriculture, LLU
Pranckietis V., Blinstrubiene A., Kriauciuniene Z. Research activities at Aleksandras Stulginskis
University Agronomy Faculty
Alaru M., Loit E. Pulses in Europe and in Estonia
Alsiņa I., Dubova L., Šenberga A., Zaharāne L., Zīverts K., Liepiņa M. The effectiveness of
inoculation of legumes with Rhizobia
Kadžiulienė Ž., Arlauskienė A., Šarūnaitė L. Legumes for sustainability of agroecosystems
Toomsoo A., Teesalu T., Kaevu H., Kriipsalu M., Rossner H., Astover A. Direct and residual effect
of organic waste compost on the crop productivity
Ruzgienė D. Development of electronic plant production services for clients.
Karklins A., Ruza A. Fertiliser normatives – adjustment for local soil conditions
Bankina B., Bimšteine G., Ruža A., Roga A., Fridmanis D. Effect of soil tillage and crop rotation
on the development of wheat diseases
Mänd M., Karise R. Management of bumblebees to deliver biocontrol agents in open field
conditions
Poster reports
Dubova L., Ruža A., Alsiņa I. The influence of tillage on soil microbiological activity
Ausmane M., Melngalvis I., Ruža A. Influence of minimal soil tillage and crop rotation on weed
population in crops
Gailis J., Turka I. The phenology of ground beetles (Carabidae) in differently managed winter
wheat fields
Mockevičienė R., Marcinkevičienė A., Pupalienė R., Velička R., Kriaučiūnienė Z.,
Butkevičienė L.M. Earthworm density in spring oilseed rape crop in organic farming system
Jančauskienė I., Blinstrubienė A. Effect of medium composition on Miscanthus × giganteus
regeneration competence
Vainorienė R., Burbulis N., Blinstrubienė A., Jonytienė V. The effect of potassium bicarbonate on
photosynthesis parameters of Setaria viridis under drought stress
Bakšienė E., Titova J. Research on the growing of perennial grass for energy
Adamavičienė A., Romaneckas K., Eimutytė E., Kimbirauskienė R. Living mulch and weed
competitiveness in maize crop
Lapiņš D., Mintāle Z., Piliksere D., Maļecka S., Ņečajeva J. Information and some results on weed
monitoring in the regions of Latvia
Pupalienė R., Jodaugienė D., Sinkevičienė A., Bajorienė K. The effect of mulches on Elytrigia
repens spreading in organic farming system
Kriauciuniene Z., Сepuliene R., Velicka R., Marcinkeviciene A., Pupaliene R., Kosteckas R.,
Cekanauskas S. The allelopathic effect of oilseed rape (Brassica napus)
Are M., Teesalu T., Kaart T., Selge A., Reintam E. The effect of manure and nitrogen fertilizer on
the soil aggregate stability
Raave H. The influence of wood ash on the yield of barley, spring wheat and spring oilseed rape
Bogužas V., Steponavičienė V., Sinkevičienė A. Long-term impact of reduced intensity tillage
systems, straw and green manure combinations on soil aggregation, water capacity, pore structure
and bulk density
Vaisvalavičius R., Mikučionienė R., Aleinikovienė J., Smalstienė V. Soil structure and organic
matter assessment in crop rotation
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
54
Masilionytė L., Maikštėnienė S. The effect of alternative cropping systems on the dynamics of the
main nutritional elements in the soil
Kosteckas R., Burbulis N. Influence of preparation albit on membrane injury of winter wheat
during cold stress
Aleknavičienė L., Staugaitis G., Brazienė Z., Paltanavičius V. The effect of sulphur fertilisation on
the yield of spring wheat
Tripolskaja L. Impact of climate variability on precipitation filtration in Lithuania
Peleckis R., Burbulis N. Effect of L-glutamic acid on cold tolerance of winter rapeseed shoots
Loit K., Soonvald L., Runno-Paurson E., Tedersoo L. Arbuscular mycorrhizal community
composition of new European potato varieties grown in conventionally treated field soil
Loit K., Kukk M., Öpik M., Runno-Paurson E. Comparison of the extent of colonization of
arbuscular mycorrhiza in plant roots in different cultivation practices
Liniņa A., Ruža A. Nitrogen effect on winter wheat grain protein content
Pazareckaitė A., Girdvainytė A., Pšibišauskienė G., Zaleckas E. Influence of biological products on
the growth and development of maize under greenhouse conditions
Tein B., Kauer K., Tampere M., Luik A., Loit E. The occurrence of potato tuber silver scurf
(Helminthosporium solani) as affected by different farming systems
Toom M. Cover crop experiments in Estonia
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
55
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
List of participants from Latvia University of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture No. Name and Surname E-mail
1. Zinta Gaile [email protected]
2. Biruta Bankina [email protected]
3. Antons Ruža [email protected]
4. Aleksandrs Adamovičs [email protected]
5. Aldis Kārkliņš [email protected]
6. Ina Alsiņa [email protected]
7. Dzidra Kreišmane [email protected]
8. Merabs Katamadze [email protected]
9. Dainis Lapiņš [email protected]
10. Maija Ausmane [email protected]
11. Anda Liniņa [email protected]
12. Jānis Gailis [email protected]
13. Laila Dubova [email protected]
14. Gunita Bimšteine [email protected]
15. Alise Šēnberga [email protected]
16. Ilze Vircava [email protected]
17. Indulis Melngalvis [email protected]
18. Ināra Turka [email protected]
19. Dace Šterne [email protected]
20. Kaspars Kampuss [email protected]
21. Irina Sivicka [email protected]
List of participants from Lithuania
Aleksandras Stulginskis University
22. Viktoras Pranckietis [email protected]
23. Vaclovas Bogužas [email protected]
24. Zita Kriaučiūnienė [email protected]
25. Rita Pupalienė [email protected]
26. Lina Butkevičienė [email protected]
27. Aušra Marcinkevičienė [email protected]
28. Robertas Kosteckas [email protected]
29. Raimondas Kosteckas [email protected]
30. Remigijus Peleckis [email protected]
31. Inga Jančauskienė [email protected]
32. Rimanta Vainorienė [email protected]
33. Kęstutis Romaneckas [email protected]
34. Agnė Pazareckaitė [email protected]
35. Agnė Girdvainytė [email protected]
36. Aušra Sinkevičienė [email protected]
37. Aida Adamavičienė [email protected]
38. Marina Keidan [email protected]
39. Vaida Steponavicienė [email protected]
40. Rita Mockevicienė [email protected]
41. Rimantas Vaisvalavičius [email protected]
42. Romutė Mikučionienė [email protected]
43. Ernestas Zaleckas [email protected]
44. Darija Jodaugienė [email protected]
Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry
45. Gintaras Brazauskas [email protected]
46. Žydrė Kadžiulienė [email protected]
„Baltic Agronomy Forum – 2016”, 07 – 08 July, 2016, LLU, Jelgava, Latvia
56
47. Laura Masilionytė [email protected]
48. Loreta Aleknavičienė [email protected]
49. Zita Brazienė [email protected]
50. Eugenija Bakšienė [email protected]
51. Jelena Titova [email protected]
52. Liudmila Tripolskaja [email protected]
Lithuanian Agriculture Advisory Service
53. Giedrė Butkienė [email protected]
54. Dijana Ruzgienė [email protected]
List of participants from Estonia
Estonian University of Life Sciences
55. Are Selge [email protected]
56. Viacheslav Eremeev [email protected]
57. Ivo Voor [email protected]
58. Evelin Loit [email protected]
59. Marika Mänd [email protected]
60. Henn Raave [email protected]
61. Karin Kauer [email protected]
62. Avo Toomsoo [email protected]
63. Endla Reintam [email protected]
64. Enn Leedu [email protected]
65. Mihkel Are [email protected]
66. Merike Kissa [email protected]
67. Triin Teesalu [email protected]
68. Tõnu Tõnutare [email protected]
69. Kaire Loit [email protected]
70. Liina Soonvald [email protected]
71. Merili Toom [email protected]
72. Jaan Kuht [email protected]
University of Tartu
73. Jaanus Harro [email protected]